Fungal toenail disease can occur for a variety of reasons. Onychomycosis is fraught with many problems, ranging from being unsightly to a constant feeling of pain and itching. It is very easy to catch, but not that easy to cure. In this article, we are going to talk about effective drugs for toenail fungus.
About onychomycosis
Fungal diseases are infectious in origin and usually affect specific areas of the nails and skin. Onychomycosis can occur with a household contact, that is, after general use of socks, shoes, as well as in the pool, sauna, gym, etc.
Toenail fungus symptoms appear gradually. The first signs are immediately recognizable:
- Nails change color: they turn gray, yellow, black, gray or white;
- begin to crumble;
- the plate is delaminated;
- the skin near the nail begins to itch;
- The affected areas hurt.
As the disease progresses, keratinization of the nail, as well as pronounced densification, is observed.
Those who treat the fungus should know that this infection is very resistant. Even if the lesion resulted in the removal of the nail, there is a chance that a small focus that went unnoticed could develop into repeated inflammation. Therefore, it is very important to carry out the treatment correctly so that you do not have to worry about the consequences of relapse in the future. It is better to immediately consult a doctor, especially a mycologist. If there is no such specialist, a dermatologist can help you.
There are different treatments for onychomycosis. Today in pharmacies you can find many preparations for toenail fungus: ointments, creams, tablets and varnishes. Doctors advise practicing oral medication and topical therapy at the same time. So the treatment will be both complete and complex. It should be noted that therapy will last for a long time - about 2 to 4 months.
Medicines for nail fungus
The treatment regimen must be selected by the doctor. Self-medication is not worthwhile, since improper use of drugs can provoke the development of resistance to them in fungal active substances and lead to further progression of the disease. In addition, antifungal drugs are quite "strong" and have a number of contraindications. A wide range of drugs are used for onychomycosis:
- topical drugs (creams, ointments, solutions, varnishes);
- Medicines for oral administration (tablets, capsules).
Topical preparations
They are a medicine for external use against fungi. They are prescribed at the initial stage of onychomycosis, that is, when the fungus has infected less than 30% of the nail surface on 1-2 fingers.
The use of these medicines is associated with some peculiarities. In order for the active ingredients to penetrate deeply into the structure of the nail and have a therapeutic effect, you need to go through two stages:
- Removal of areas of the nail plate affected by the fungus. To do this, it is necessary to steam the nails in a soda-soap solution for 10-15 minutes. Then carefully remove the upper softened layer with a file and treat it with a disinfectant. The solution is made simply: add 1 tbsp to 2 liters of water. l. Baking powder and 5 g laundry soap.
- Treatment with an antifungal fungicidal preparation. A means (ointment, gel, varnish) should be applied to the affected nail.
An antifungal agent in the form of a varnish is popular. It only needs to be applied to the affected area of the nail twice a week. The course of treatment continues until the symptoms of onychomycosis completely disappear.
Keratolics should also be distinguished among local preparations. It is a painless and inexpensive alternative to hardware removal of the affected nail. With the help of these funds, you can soften the stratum corneum of the nail plate, which is then discarded. These drugs should be used when the area of the fungus is more than 40%. The type of application looks like this:
- Steam your feet in a soap and soda solution.
- Sand the surface of the plate with a file;
- abundantly grease with the selected composition;
- Cover the treated area with tape.
Such actions must be carried out every 3-4 days. As a result, healthy nails should grow instead of diseased nails.
Oral medication
These are nail fungus drugs that are available in tablets or capsules for oral administration. These means of treatment are prescribed in advanced cases, when the fungus has infected more than 50% of the nail surface and is actively developing.
Oral antifungal drugs are toxic and have many contraindications. In particular, they should not be drunk during pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney and liver diseases. To reduce the risk of side effects, such drugs are prescribed for short courses.
We strongly recommend that you discuss the dosage of the medication and the course of treatment with your doctor. All cases are individual.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
Folk recipes for onychomycosis on toenails can help only in the initial stages of the disease. Antifungal properties are inherent in many plants, improvised remedies from the first-aid kit and the refrigerator.
The following folk remedies are popular:
- Iodine.Has pronounced antiseptic, fungicidal properties. The solution should be used to treat diseased nails and skin twice a day (1 drop per nail). Course: month. True, this method has disadvantages: the fingers turn yellow, sometimes burns can occur.
- Tea mushroom. . . Peel and chop a small piece of mushroom. Rub the pulp into the affected nails, do not rinse. Next, stick a bactericidal plaster and put on tight socks. The procedure must be carried out three times until the diseased nail plate falls off and a new nail grows.
- Vinegar 9%. . . Moisten your nails with acetic acid overnight and put on your socks. Leave it till morning. You can also bathe. Pour a glass of vinegar into a bowl of warm water and steam your nails for 15 minutes. Each procedure should be performed daily until the symptoms of the fungus have subsided.
- Birch tar. . . With onychomycosis, you need pure tar. If it doesn't, tar soap will do. The product must be rubbed into the nails, secured with a compress and left overnight. Rinse off in the morning. And so every day until full recovery.
- Celandine. . . Brew dry grass with 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then mix with water in a ratio of 1: 1. Keep your fingers in the resulting solution for 30 minutes. Do it daily.
- Onion peel. . . 4 tbsp. l. Pour onion skins with a glass of vodka, cover with a lid and leave for 2 weeks in a dark place. The resulting tincture should be smeared with nails 4 times a day.
- Lavender oil, tea tree oil and olive oil.Mix in equal proportions, apply the composition to the affected nail plate. You need to use this home remedy in socks every day before going to bed.
Although in the vastness of the network there are many positive reviews about the use of these folk remedies, their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. If you practice it, it is only as an adjunct to drug treatment. Of course, the doctor should be warned about this.
Onychomycosis is a fungal nail disease that is difficult to get rid of. A positive result can only be achieved with an integrated therapeutic approach. You shouldn't be playing "doctor" and making a treatment plan for yourself. Most drugs are contraindicated and can cause side effects. The best way to treat the fungus can only be suggested by a specialist. The drugs described above and their analogues are suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis, which occurs not only on the fingers, but also on the hands on the fingers.