Nail fungus, or mycosis, is an extremely unpleasant and, unfortunately, very common disease. Mycosis refers to chronic, intractable pathologies - sometimes it is not possible to find an effective remedy for toenail fungus for months or even years. The symptoms go away for a while, it seems that everything is behind and the nails are healthy. But after a few weeks, the nail plate turns yellow again, thickens, begins to crumble - and again you have to look for cures for nail fungus, suffer from itching, discomfort, and an unpleasant odor.
Finding effective drugs for the treatment of toenail fungus is necessary not only because the affected feet do not look well-groomed and repulsive. The constant presence of a fungal infection in the body negatively affects the state of the immune system, the general well-being of a person and can become an impetus for the development of other, no less unpleasant and more dangerous pathologies. Pharmacies offer a huge selection of various remedies for toenail fungus at a very different price. All of them have a different composition and mechanism of action, which ones are best suited, in most cases you have to determine by trial and error.
A good remedy for nail fungus on the hands and feet costs a lot. To avoid unnecessary expenses and not to start the disease, it is worth preparing before going to the pharmacy. Namely - to find out what types of antifungal drugs exist today, what is their difference, how they work and are used. And, of course, you should definitely consult your doctor. To adhere to his recommendations or not is a private matter for everyone, but at least he will accurately diagnose and identify the pathogen.
The main types of antifungal drugs
All medicines offered in pharmacies for the treatment of athlete's foot are divided into two broad categories according to the method of administration:
- external - ointments, creams, varnishes;
- internal - tablets and capsules.
To find the most effective and best remedy for toenail fungus, you need to identify the pathogen. Different fungi are sensitive to different medications, so it is so important to see a doctor. Otherwise, the treatment can stretch indefinitely, lead to a deterioration in the condition of the nails and unnecessary waste.
Each group has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worth considering each in detail and assessing the effectiveness of the most common drugs of them, based on the opinion of doctors and patient reviews.
Azole Toenail Fungus Remedies
These toenail fungus products may contain substances such as triazole or imidazole. They work in two directions:
- destroy the spores of the fungus and thereby stop its spread;
- destroy the cells of the fungus itself.
These drugs can be produced in different forms for both external and internal use. Tablets and capsules are taken from 1 to 4-5 pieces per day for 3-14 days, ointments and creams are rubbed into the nail plates in courses of the same duration.
Pros of azoles
- Effective against almost all types of fungi - yeast, yeast-like, moldy.
- Suitable for long-term treatment - up to three months or more.
- Offered in a wide price range.
Cons
- Oral medications can have side effects.
- Some are expensive.
- Relapses are not excluded even after complex treatment.
Nevertheless, many patients in this category find the most effective remedy for nail fungus. Such drugs received the best reviews and recommendations.
Introduction
Only a comprehensive treatment can get rid of toenail fungus.
For a positive result, you need to apply several methods to combat fungal injection.Only the right approach will quickly get rid of the disease.
Diagnosis of mycosis on the legs
Diagnosing the disease is easy and can be done at home. Examine carefully the nails and the space between the fingers - itching, redness, transparency of the nail plate, burning sensation, discoloration of the nail are signs of the disease.
You can also carry out diagnostics in another way, dilute potassium permanganate to a light purple color and wet your nails in it - healthy nail plates will be stained, and patients will remain unchanged. As soon as the problem is discovered, the question of treating the fungus arises, and then everyone decides for himself.
Start treating an illness at home using folk remedies or pharmaceuticals, or go to the doctor.Our advice is to consult a specialist, only a doctor can prescribe the correct, comprehensive treatment that will lead to positive results.
What to expect from a trip to a medical facility if a fungus is found:
- A dermatologist will carefully examine the fungus under a microscope.
- Indicates the focus of infection.
- Identify the cause of the disease.
- Will make an accurate diagnosis in accordance with the tests performed.
- Prescribe treatment.
It should be noted that the diagnosis is completely painless; skin scales and particles from a diseased nail are taken for analysis.
The main types (schemes, courses) of complex therapy for onychomycosis
In the treatment of fungus, only complex therapy is used with the use of various drugs and means that will enhance each other's action.
A qualified specialist develops an individual treatment regimen, based on the characteristics of the patient's body, the type of pathogen and the state of development of fungal infection.
Untimely treatment of nail fungus can lead to the following consequences:
- decreased immunity;
- the appearance of eczema on the skin of the legs;
- allergies;
- if an infection enters the bloodstream, the fungus can infect the internal organs.
Prompt action to eliminate fungal infection from the body contributes to effective fungal treatment. There are many varieties of the causative agent of diseases, andcan only be detected in laboratory conditions, therefore, when contacting a dermatologist, he takes particles from a diseased nail.
In the last stage, it is very difficult to get rid of the infection, since it has penetrated deep enough into the body. At this stage, the nail plates become thickened and brittle, and the skin around them becomes deformed. In this situation, recovery depends on the correct approach of the dermatologist to treatment and the actions of the patient himself.
Antifungal varnishes and plasters: types and degree of effectiveness
Special plasters, which are often recommended by mycologists, will help to quickly destroy fungal spores.
The patch softens the affected nail, making it easier to remove later.
Removing the nail plates and treating the fungus with patches is quite effective, but before use you need to consult a specialist, since the use of one patch will not relieve a relapse if the disease has penetrated deep into the body.
In addition to plasters, a large number of varnishes have been developed that effectively fight nail fungus. The following popular and effective varnishes will help to cure onychomycosis:
If the fungus has not been cured, another treatment must be found.
Preparations that painlessly remove damaged nail
Now in the pharmacy you can buy drugs that help to quickly and painlessly remove a sore nail, but they must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Tablets against onychomycosis
If the fungal lesions have grown strongly, then the use of only external drugs will be useless, you need to take antifungal drugs inside.
Creams and ointments
Medical studies have proven that ointments and creams in the treatment of nail fungus are not effective enough, since they practically do not penetrate the nail plate and quickly wear off.
But do not completely exclude these drugs from the treatment regimen, they can significantly help as an additional treatment or as a prophylaxis.
Doctors prescribe creams and ointments to prevent relapse.
Tea tree oil is often used in the treatment of fungus, which can be used alone or added to foot cream.
It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal effects. The course of treatment is very long, and the main rule for a positive effect is the regularity of use.
Traditional therapy
Despite the fact that a lot of drugs for the treatment of fungal infections have been developed, it is not so easy to get rid of this ailment. Therefore, folk methods of treating the fungus are often used in a heap with medications.
Garlic
This ingredient is often used in many folk recipes to treat fungus. It can be used alone or with some components.
The easiest way, but quite effective, is rubbing freshly squeezed garlic juice into a sore nail. This process must be repeated at least 5 times a day - the juice is applied with a cotton swab. The course of treatment is long - until complete recovery. If the disease is running, then experts recommend taking additional Nystatin tablets and Clotrimazole ointment.
Acetic acid
Vinegar not only effectively fights fungal infections, but also has the following properties:
- antimicrobial effect;
- disinfection of the skin around the nail;
- fungistatic and antiseptic action.
The principle of action of vinegar essence on fungus and mycosis is penetration into the affected area and destruction of spores of fungal infection.
As a result of prolonged use,colonies of the fungus are completely killed by acid.
Compresses of 8 times diluted acetic acid are used for treatment, a bandage is applied at night.
Onions and Lemon
There are many popular onion-based recipes for treating nail fungus. You can take the onion, peel, squeeze out the juice and process the nail plates. Often this method is used at night, but since the product does not require rinsing, it can be applied in the morning.
There is another recipe, you need to grate the peeled onion, put the gruel on your feet, then wrap it in cellophane and put on warm socks. The compress is left overnight, and in the morning they wash their feet with soap to remove the persistent onion odor.
And if you combine lemon and onion, you can enhance the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect of the drug. Grate the onion into the gruel and add lemon juice to it. Apply these masks at night. An improvement in the condition can be observed after a few days. But the main thing is the frequency - the use of the remedy for a long time, until it is completely cured.
General antifungal prophylaxis
The fungus can be infected in public places such as baths, saunas, salons. To prevent this trouble, you need to take the following preventive measures:
- do not wear shoes that are out of size, this can cause ingrowth of the nail plate and the development of fungal infection;
- if you sweat your feet, you should not wear sneakers and sneakers;
- do not try on shoes in the store without socks;
- do not wear slippers when visiting;
- dry and disinfect shoes regularly;
- do not wear synthetic socks;
- pedicure or manicure should be done in professional salons, where special attention is paid to the disinfection of the instrument;
- for severe dry skin of the feet, apply emollient creams.
Top 10 best folk remedies for nail fungus
The early stages of fungal infections do not always require medication. Sometimes you can cope with them with the help of time-tested folk remedies. These treatments are considered safe for human health. In parallel, they demonstrate a clearly visible treatment effect, of course, provided they are used correctly.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an incredibly powerful natural antiseptic that can fight fungal pathogens. It is most effective to use natural oil, as it has excellent anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties. As for cosmetic oil (40%), it actually has no effect. Using a cheap analogue, you will only waste precious time, allowing the disease to spread even more.
The tea tree oil treatment is as follows:
- First you need to get rid of excessive sweating and cleanse your feet in general. To do this, you need to prepare warm water and add a few drops of oil there. Feet should be thoroughly washed, with special attention to be paid to fingers and nails. Do not miss a single area of the skin during the cleansing procedure.
- Feet should be well dried with a clean towel. Next, you need to apply dosed oil on all affected nail plates and gently rub it in. Wait for the product to dry completely. At this time, do not do any action, let your legs "breathe". For greater effectiveness, the oil must be applied to the skin around the nails.
The tea tree oil treatment is incredibly simple, but it requires regularity. The product must be applied 2 times a day for two months. Before each rubbing in the oil, the feet must be steamed with warm water with the addition of a substance.
Vinegar, Garlic, Peroxide - Cheap Home Treatments
For the treatment of nail fungus, the most commonly usedapple cider vinegar.Everyone knows that this solution perfectly disinfects and kills bacteria. Thus, it is possible to carry out therapy with this tool with great success, but you need to know some of the intricacies of its use, namely:
- The vinegar must be natural;
- Vinegar is not used to treat fungus in its pure form, it must be diluted without fail;
- If you have overly sensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions, then it is better to refuse to use the product.
Vinegar gives the best results in the following variations:
- Trays - To prepare 2-4 cups of vinegar, dilute in warm water. The procedure takes about 10-15 minutes. It should be carried out at least 2 times a day for two weeks. In the future, the procedure is repeated once every 3 days until complete recovery.
- Lotions - a cotton swab or sponge is soaked in diluted vinegar (1: 2 ratio) and applied to the affected nail. Such a kind of compress must be fixed and held for about 20-30 minutes.
- Ointments - show good results when combined with other products. For making, you need to take olive oil, glycerin and dimethyl phthalate and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The ingredients must be mixed thoroughly. Apply this ointment to treat the fungus 2 times a day until it is completely eliminated.
Garlicis a rather specific remedy for treating fungus, which is not suitable for everyone and not everyone. The gruel made from garlic helps the best. It must be applied to the affected nail and wrapped tightly with polyethylene for 1-2 hours. However, such a remedy quite often provokes burns and causes redness on sensitive skin. You can get rid of nail fungus using this method of treatment in 2 months.
Therapy of nail funguswith hydrogen peroxideis an affordable method, which, unfortunately, does not always give significant results. This method of treatment is most preferable at the very initial stage of the disease. In order for the peroxide to work accurately, the legs must first be steamed well with hot water with the addition of soda (1 teaspoon of the substance per 1 liter). In the future, each affected nail must be carefully treated with peroxide. You need to repeat this procedure at least 2-3 times a day. It should be noted that this method gives the best results in combination with other methods of therapy.
Apricot resin
Not many people know that apricot gum really has beneficial and healing properties. Most often, this substance can be found in places of damage to the bark, it accumulates and solidifies in the form of small transparent drops of dark yellow color. The resin must be collected by carefully cutting it off with a knife.
Resin is an excellent fungus cure when used properly. 1 tablespoon of the substance is infused in 250 ml. vodka for 3 days. The resulting product is used to lubricate nails that have been affected by the disease.
Strong coffee
Possesses excellent medicinal properties. Only real coffee beans are suitable for fungal therapy. The soluble version of this drink is not suitable for treatment. Trays based on coffee beans show the best efficiency.
The ground coffee beans must be brewed to a strong strength. Wait for the water to cool slightly and dip your feet into the resulting solution. You need to withstand 10-15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure, but wait until the liquid is completely absorbed and dries. Such treatment is carried out at least once a day.
Lotions with anesthetic solution
Allows to arrest the spread of mycosis in the early stages. For therapy, it is enough to buy an anesthetic drug in ampoules at a pharmacy and use it as a lotion on the affected area of the nail. Several procedures allow you to get rid of the disease completely.
Only effective in the earliest stages of fungal infection. It is necessary to lubricate the affected nail plate with iodine. You should not get too carried away, as this remedy has a detrimental effect on the condition of the skin. It is recommended to lubricate adjacent fingers with petroleum jelly to avoid irritation.
Celandine
Celandine juice is an aggressive substance that can literally burn out fungus. You need to use a fresh plant, after having lubricated your nails with hydrogen peroxide. If you are afraid of burns, it is recommended to use celandine oil, which can be successfully purchased at any pharmacy.
Tricks to successfully fight toenail fungus
To fight the fungus quickly and effectively, there are some simple but very important rules to know:
- Washing the feet.Before applying the drug to the affected nail, the feet should be thoroughly washed with warm water and laundry soap. After that, you need to steam the leg with the affected nail in warmer water for 5-7 minutes. This will allow medicinal products to penetrate into the steamed tissue as deeply as possible. The main thing is to remember that steaming feet in hot water is contraindicated in case of hypotension, varicose veins and high temperatures.
- Nail care.It is very important to monitor the regrowth of the diseased nail. As the nail plate grows back, it will need to be cut off. Thus, it is possible to provide maximum drug access to the tissues damaged by the fungus.
- Leather processing.Processing requires not only the nail, but also the soft tissues located around. The treatment should extend 1 cm around the nail. You need to apply the medicine carefully, smearing all the most inaccessible places.
- Timely visit to a doctor.In especially difficult situations, when the fungus returns many times, it is worth contacting a doctor. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cure this ailment on your own. In addition, some types of medicines may simply not be suitable, and it is rather difficult to choose the necessary medicines yourself.
- Instrument care.When performing a manicure or pedicure, as well as cutting off a sore nail, you should only use sterilized instruments. These instruments must be treated with an antiseptic "before" and "after" each procedure. In addition, nail scissors, forceps and files used to care for a sick nail must be kept strictly separate from other manicure tools.
Using these simple rules, you can cure nail fungus much faster.
Conclusion
Fungus is an unpleasant disease and it is quite difficult to cure it if you do not apply complex therapy. For the best effect, you need to use not only external, pharmacy and folk drugs, but also treatment with pills. The correct approach and treatment regimen will help get rid of the fungal infection forever.
Nail fungus can significantly impair a person's quality of life. The disease leads to severe itching, burning in the affected area and even loss of the nail. That is why, remedies for toenail (hand) nail fungus should be applied immediately after the problem is discovered. In this way, the best and most effective treatment can be achieved.
Making the right choice is not always easy. Many who have encountered a fungus for the first time are negligent and use little proven folk remedies as therapy.
Only a doctor can prescribe a truly effective remedy for nail fungus. So the likelihood of getting rid of the problem increases significantly. However, there are a number of proven remedies that guarantee the elimination of nail fungus in the shortest possible time. This applies not only to medicines, but also to traditional medicine.