Fungal toenail disease can occur for several reasons. Onychomycosis is fraught with many problems, ranging from an ugly appearance to a constant sensation of pain and itching. It is very easy to catch, but not so easy to cure. In this article, we'll talk about effective nail fungus medications.
About onychomycosis
Fungal diseases are infectious in origin and usually affect certain areas of the nails and skin. Onychomycosis can be contracted in home contact, that is, after the general use of socks, shoes, as well as in the pool, sauna, gym, etc.
Symptoms of nail fungus appear gradually. The first signs can be noticed immediately:
- the nails change color: they become gray, yellow, black, gray or white;
- start to fall apart;
- the plaque is delaminated;
- the skin near the nail starts to itch;
- the affected areas hurt.
With the progression of the disease, keratinization of the nail is observed, as well as marked compaction.
Whoever treats the fungus should know that this infection is highly resistant. Even if the lesion led to the removal of the nail, there is a possibility that the recurrent inflammation develops from a small focus, which went unnoticed. Therefore, it is very important to carry out the treatment correctly so that in the future you do not worry about the consequences in the form of relapse. It is best to consult a doctor immediately, specifically a mycologist. If that specialist does not exist, a dermatologist can help you.
There are several treatments for onychomycosis. Nowadays you can find in pharmacies many preparations for nail fungus: ointments, creams, pills and varnishes. Doctors advise the practice of oral medications and topical therapy at the same time. Thus, the treatment will be the most complete, as well as complex. It must be kept in mind that the therapy takes a long time - about 2 to 4 months.
Nail fungus medication
The treatment regimen must be selected by the doctor. Self-medication is not worth it, as the improper use of medications can cause the development of resistance to them in fungal agents, in addition to leading to greater disease progression. In addition, antifungals are quite "strong" and have several contraindications. A wide range of medications are used against onychomycosis:
- topical medications (creams, ointments, solutions, varnishes);
- medicines for oral administration (tablets, capsules).
Topical preparations
They are a medicine for external use against fungi. They are prescribed in the initial stage of onychomycosis, that is, when the fungus has infected less than 30% of the nail surface in 1 to 2 fingers.
The use of these drugs is associated with some peculiarities. In order for the active substances to penetrate deeply into the nail structure and have a therapeutic effect, you need to go through 2 steps:
- Removal of areas of the nail plate affected by the fungus. To do this, it is necessary to spray the nails in a soda soap solution for 10-15 minutes, then carefully remove the softened top layer with a file and treat it with a disinfectant. The solution is prepared simply: add 1 tablespoon to 2 liters of water. me. baking soda and 5 g of washing powder.
- Treatment with an antifungal fungicidal preparation. A remedy (ointment, gel, varnish) must be applied to the affected nail.
An antifungal medication in the form of varnish is popular. It only needs to be applied to the affected area of the nail twice a week. The course of treatment is until the symptoms of onychomycosis disappear completely.
Also among local preparations, keratolics must be differentiated. It is a painless and inexpensive alternative for removing hardware from the affected nail. With the help of these funds, you can soften the stratum corneum of the nail plate, which is later rejected. These drugs should be used when the area of the fungus is greater than 40%. The application method is similar to this:
- spray your feet in a soda and soap solution;
- sand the surface of the board with a file;
- grease generously with the selected composition;
- cover the treated area with adhesive tape.
These actions must be performed every 3-4 days. As a result, healthy nails should grow in place of diseased nails.
Oral medications
They are medicines for nail fungus, available in tablets or capsules for oral administration. These remedies for treatment are prescribed in advanced cases, when the fungus has infected more than 50% of the nail surface and is actively progressing.
Oral fungal medications are toxic and have many contraindications. In particular, they should not be drunk during pregnancy, lactation, kidney or liver disease. To reduce the risk of side effects, these drugs are prescribed for short courses.
We strongly recommend that you check the dosage of medications and the course of treatment with your doctor. All cases are individual.
Folk remedies against nail fungus
Popular recipes against onychomycosis in toenails can only help in the early stage of the disease. The antifungal properties are inherent in many plants, improvised remedies from the first aid kit and the refrigerator.
The following folk remedies are popular:
- Iodine.It has pronounced antiseptic and fungicidal properties. The solution should be used to treat diseased nails and skin twice a day (1 drop per nail). Course: month. It is true that this method has disadvantages - the fingers turn yellow, sometimes burns can occur.
- Tea Mushroom. . . Peel a small piece of mushroom and chop. Rub porridge on affected nails, do not rinse. Then, stick a bactericidal adhesive and put on tights. The procedure should be done three times until the diseased nail plate falls and a new nail grows.
- Vinegar 9%. . . Moisten your nails with acetic acid overnight and put on your socks. Leave until morning. You can also do baths. Pour a glass of vinegar into a bowl of warm water and cook 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 is not, then the tar soap will do. The product should be rubbed on the nails, stuck with a compress and left overnight. Rinse in the morning. And so every day until complete recovery.
- Celandine. . . Prepare the dry grass with 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then mix with water in a 1: 1 ratio. Keep your fingers in the resulting solution for 30 minutes. Do this daily.
- Onion skin. . . 4 tablespoons. me. pour the onion skins with a glass of vodka, cover with a lid and let it infuse in a dark place for 2 weeks. The resulting dye should be lubricated with nails 4 times a day.
- Lavender oil, tea tree oil and olive oil.Mix in equal proportions, apply the composition on the affected nail plate. You need to use this home remedy every day before going to bed, wearing socks.
Although in the vastness of the network you can find many positive reviews about the use of these folk remedies, their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. If you practice them, then only as a supplement to drug treatment. Of course, the doctor must be advised of this.
Onychomycosis is a fungal nail disease, which is difficult to eliminate. Only with an integrated approach to therapy can a positive result be achieved. You should not play "doctor" and outline a treatment plan for yourself. Most medications 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 that occurs in the fingers, not only of the feet, but also of the hands.