Finding effective remedies for nail fungus is important not only because the affected feet do not look well groomed and disgusting. 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 be a stimulus for the development of other, no less unpleasant and more dangerous pathologies. Pharmacies offer a huge variety of different treatments for nail fungus at very different prices. They all have different composition and mechanism of action, which are the most suitable, in most cases you have to determine by trial and error.
A good treatment for toenail 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. That is - to find out what types of antifungal drugs are available today, what is the difference, how they work and are used. And, of course, you should definitely consult your doctor. Adherence to his recommendations or not is a personal matter for everyone, but at least he will diagnose and pinpoint 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:
- externally - ointments, creams, varnishes.
- internally - tablets and capsules.
To find the most effective and best treatment for nail fungus, you need to identify the pathogen. Different fungi are sensitive to different medicines, so it is so important to see a doctor. Otherwise, the treatment can be stretched indefinitely, leading to deterioration of the nail condition and unnecessary waste.
Each team has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worth examining each one in detail and evaluating the effectiveness of these more common drugs, based on the opinion of doctors and patient evaluations.
Treatment of Azole nail fungus
These nail fungus products may contain substances such as triazole or imidazole. They work in two directions:
- destroy the spores of the fungus and thus stop it from spreading.
- destroy the fungal cells themselves.
These drugs can be produced in various forms for both external and internal use. The tablets and capsules are taken from 1 to 4-5 pieces a day for 3-14 days, the ointments and creams are rubbed on the nail plates during the same time.
Advantages of azoles
- Effective against almost all types of fungi - yeast, yeast, mold.
- Suitable for long-term treatment - up to three months or more.
- Offered in a wide range of prices.
Disadvantages
- Oral medications can have side effects.
- Some are expensive.
- Relapses are not ruled out even after complex treatment.
However, many patients in this category find the most effective treatment for nail fungus. Such drugs received the best reviews and suggestions.
Introduction
Only a complete cure can get rid of nail fungus.
For a positive result, you need to apply various methods to fight fungal injection.Only the right approach will get rid of the disease quickly.
Diagnosis of foot fungus
Diagnosis of the disease is easy and you can do it at home. Carefully examine 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 perform diagnostics in another way, dilute the potassium permanganate to a light purple color and soak your nails in it - healthy nail plates will stain and patients will remain unchanged. Once the problem is discovered, the question of treating the fungus arises and then everyone decides for themselves.
Start treating an illness at home using folk remedies or medicines or go to the doctor.Our advice is to consult a specialist, only a doctor can prescribe the right, 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 the infection.
- Determine the cause of the disease.
- Will make an accurate diagnosis based on the tests performed.
- Prescription 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 (shapes, courses) of complex treatment for onychomycosis
In the treatment of fungus, only combination therapy is used with the use of various drugs and means that will enhance the action of the other.
A qualified specialist develops an individual treatment regimen, based on the patient's body characteristics, the type of pathogen and the developmental status of the fungal infection.
Early treatment of nail fungus can lead to the following consequences:
- reduced immunity.
- the appearance of eczema on the skin of the feet.
- allergies?
- if an infection enters the bloodstream, the fungus can infect internal organs.
The rapid action to eliminate fungal infection from the body contributes to the effective treatment of fungi. There are many varieties of the causative agent of the disease andcan only be detected in the laboratory, so when you contact a dermatologist, you get particles from a diseased nail.
In the last stage, it is very difficult to get rid of the infection, as it has penetrated deep enough into the body. At this stage, the nail plates become thicker and more fragile and the skin around them becomes deformed. In this case, the recovery depends on the dermatologist's correct approach to the treatment and the actions of the patient himself.
Antifungal varnishes and plasters: types and degree of effectiveness
Special plasters, often recommended by mycologists, will help to quickly destroy fungal spores.
The patch softens the affected nail, making it easier to remove later.
Removing nail plates and treating the fungus with patches is quite effective, but before use you should consult a specialist, as the use of a patch will not relieve the recurrence 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 treat onychomycosis:
If the fungus has not been cured, another treatment must be found.
Preparations that painlessly remove damaged nail
Now at the pharmacy you can buy medicines that help to quickly and painlessly remove a toothache, but they must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Tablets against onychomycosis
If the fungal lesions have increased sharply, then the use of only external drugs will be useless, you need to take antifungal drugs inside.
Creams and ointments
Medical studies have shown that ointments and creams are not effective enough in the treatment of nail fungus, as they practically do not penetrate the nail plate and wear out quickly.
But do not completely exclude these drugs from the treatment regimen, they can help significantly as an adjunct therapy or as a prophylaxis.
Doctors prescribe creams and ointments to prevent recurrence.
Tea tree oil is often used to treat fungus, which can be used alone or added to foot cream.
Has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal effects. The course of treatment is very long and the basic rule for a positive result is the regularity of use.
Traditional therapy
Although many medicines have been developed to treat fungal infections, it is not easy to get rid of this disease. Therefore, folk remedies for fungus are often used in a pile of medicines.Garlic
This ingredient is often used in many folk remedies to treat the fungus. Can be used alone or with some accessories.
The easiest waybut quite effective, is rubbing fresh garlic juice on a toothache. This procedure should be repeated at least 5 times a day - apply the juice with a cotton swab. The course of treatment is long - until the recovery is complete. If the disease persists, then experts recommend taking extra Nystatin tablets and clotrimazole ointment.
Acetic acid
Vinegar effectively fights fungal infections, but also has the following properties:
- antimicrobial effect?
- disinfection of the skin around the nails
- fungal and antiseptic action.
The beginning of the action of the vinegar substance in the fungus and the fungal infection is the penetration in the affected area and the destruction of the seeds of the fungal infection.
As a result of prolonged use,fungal colonies are completely killed by the acid.
Compression 8 times diluted acetic acid is 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 it, squeeze the juice and process the nail plates. This method is often used at night, but because the product does not require rinsing, it can be applied in the morning.
There is another recipe, you have to grate the peeled onion, put the gruel on your feet and then wrap it in cellophane and wear warm socks. The compress is left overnight and in the morning they wash their feet with soap to remove the persistent smell of onion.
And if you combine lemon and onion, you can enhance the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action of the drug. Grate the onion in 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 drug 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 avoid this problem, you should take the following precautions:
- Do not wear shoes that are oversized, as this can cause the nail plate to grow and develop a fungal infection.
- If you sweat your feet too much, 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 disinfecting 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 treat them with the help of tried and tested folk remedies. These treatments are considered safe for human health. At the same time, they show a clearly visible effect of treatment, 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 more effective to use natural oil, as it has excellent anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. As for the cosmetic oil (40%), it actually has no effect. Using a cheap analogue will only waste valuable time, allowing the disease to spread even further.
Tea tree oil treatment is as follows:
- First you need to get rid of excessive sweating and clean your feet in general. To do this, prepare hot water and add a few drops of oil there. The feet should be washed well, paying special attention to the toes and nails. Do not lose any area of the skin during the cleansing process.
- The feet should be well dried with a clean towel. Next, you need to apply dosing oil to all the affected nail plates and rub it gently. Wait for the product to dry completely. For now, take no action, let your feet "breathe". For greater effectiveness, the oil should be applied to the skin around the nails.
Treating tea tree oil is incredibly simple, but requires regularity. The product should be applied twice a day for two months. Before each rubbing in the oil, the feet should be steamed with hot water with the addition of a substance.
Vinegar, garlic, peroxide - Cheap home remedies
For the treatment of nail fungus, the most commonly used cider vinegar.Everyone knows that this solution perfectly disinfects and kills bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to perform treatment with this tool with great success, but you should be aware of some of the complications of its use, namely:
- Vinegar must be natural.
- Vinegar is not used to treat the fungus in its pure form, it must be diluted without failure.
- If you have extremely sensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions, then it is best to refuse the use of the product.
Vinegar gives the best results in the following variants:
- Trays - To prepare 2-4 cups of vinegar, dilute in warm water. The process takes about 10-15 minutes. It should be performed at least twice a day for two weeks. In the future, the procedure is repeated once every 3 days until complete recovery.
- Lotion - a cotton ball or sponge soaked in diluted vinegar (1: 2 ratio) and applied to the affected nail. This type of compression should be fixed and maintained for about 20-30 minutes.
- Ointments - show good results when combined with other products. For the preparation, you need to take olive oil, glycerin and dimethyl phthalate and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The ingredients must be well mixed. Apply this ointment to treat the fungus 2 times a day until it is completely eliminated.
Treating nail funguswith hydrogen peroxideis an affordable method, which, unfortunately, does not always give significant results. This method of treatment is preferable in the early stages of the disease. In order for the peroxide to work accurately, the feet must first be steamed well with hot water with the addition of soda (1 teaspoon of the substance per 1 liter). In the future, any affected nail should be treated carefully with peroxide. You should repeat this process at least 2-3 times a day. It should be noted that this method gives the best results in combination with other methods of treatment.
Apricot resin
Not many people know that apricot gum has really beneficial and healing properties. Most often, this substance can be found in areas of damage to the cortex, accumulates and solidifies in the form of small transparent drops of dark yellow color. The resin should be collected by carefully cutting with a knife.
Resin is an excellent fungus treatment when used properly. 1 tablespoon of the substance is infused into 250 ml. vodka for 3 days. The resulting product is used to lubricate the nails affected by the disease.
Strong coffee
It has excellent medicinal properties. Only real coffee beans are suitable for fungal treatment. The soluble version of this drink is not suitable for treatment. Coffee beans-based discs show the best performance.
Ground coffee beans must be brewed with great vigor. Wait for the water to cool a bit and immerse your feet in the resulting solution. You have to last 10-15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure, but wait until the liquid is completely absorbed and dry. Such treatment is performed at least once a day.
Lotion with anesthetic solution
Allows the cessation of the spread of the fungus in the early stages. For treatment, all you have to do is buy an anesthetic in ampoules at a pharmacy and use it as a lotion on the affected area of the nail. Various procedures allow you to get rid of the disease completely.
It is effective only in the early stages of fungal infection. It is necessary to lubricate the affected nail plate with iodine. You should not be fooled, as this treatment has a detrimental effect on the skin condition. It is recommended to lubricate adjacent fingers with Vaseline to avoid irritation.
Celandine
Ficelin juice is an aggressive substance that can literally burn the fungus. You should use a fresh plant, as you lubricate your nails with hydrogen peroxide. If you are afraid of burns, it is recommended to use celandine oil, which you can successfully buy at any pharmacy.
Tricks to effectively fight nail fungus
To fight the fungus quickly and effectively, there are some simple but very important rules you need to know:
- Washing the feet.Before applying the medicine to the affected nail, the feet should be rinsed thoroughly with warm water and laundry soap. After that, you should spray the foot with the affected nail in warm water for 5-7 minutes. This will allow the medicinal products to penetrate the vapor into the tissue as deeply as possible. The main thing is to remember that the steam of the feet in hot water is contraindicated in case of hypotension, varicose veins and high temperatures.
- Nail care.It is very important to monitor the regeneration of the diseased nail. As the nail plate grows, it should be cut. Thus, it is possible to provide maximum access to the drugs to the tissues damaged by the fungus.
- Skin treatment.Treatment requires not only the nail, but also the soft tissues around it. The treatment should extend 1 cm around the nails. You need to apply the medicine carefully, soiling all the most inaccessible places.
- Timely visit to a doctor.In particularly difficult situations, when the fungus returns many times, it is worth contacting a doctor. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cure this disease on your own. In addition, some types of medications may simply not be suitable and it is rather difficult to choose the necessary medications yourself.
- Instrument care.When performing manicures or pedicures, as well as cutting a sore throat, you should only use sterile instruments. These instruments should be treated with antiseptic "before" and "after" each procedure. In addition, nail clippers, tweezers and files used to care for a diseased nail should be kept strictly separate from other manicure tools.
Using these simple rules, you can cure nail fungus much faster.
Conclusion
The fungus is an unpleasant disease and it is quite difficult to cure it if you do not apply a combination treatment. For best results, you should use not only external, pharmacies and folk remedies, but also treatment with pills. The right approach and treatment will help you get rid of the fungal infection forever.
Nail fungus can significantly affect a person's quality of life. The disease leads to severe itching, burning in the affected area and even loss of nails. Therefore, treatments for toenail fungus should be applied immediately after the problem is discovered. In this way, the best and most effective treatment can be achieved.Choosing the right one is not always easy. Many who have encountered a fungus for the first time are careless and use a few proven folk remedies as a cure.
Only a doctor can prescribe a truly effective treatment for nail fungus. Thus, the probability of getting rid of the problem increases significantly. However, there are some proven treatments that guarantee the elimination of nail fungus in the shortest possible time. This applies not only to medicines, but also to traditional medicines.