Fungal toenail disease can occur for many reasons. Onychomycosis is full of troubles, from unsightly appearance to constant pain and itching. It is easy to catch, but not so easy to cure. In this article, we will discuss effective drugs for toenail fungus.
About onychomycosis
Fungal diseases are the source of infection and usually affect certain areas of the nails and skin. Onychomycosis can be infected after family contact, that is, after general use of socks, shoes, swimming pools, saunas, and gyms.
Symptoms of toenail fungus gradually appear. The first signs can be noticed immediately:
- Discoloration of nails: become gray, yellow, black, gray or white;
- Start to crash
- Delamination
- The skin near the nails starts to itch;
- The affected area was injured.
As the disease progressed, keratinization and significant compaction of the nails were observed.
Those who treat fungi should know that this infection is highly resistant. Even if the lesion causes the nail to fall off, it is possible to develop repeated inflammation from a smaller lesion, which has not attracted people's attention. Therefore, the correct treatment is very important so that you will no longer have to worry about the consequences of recurrence in the future. It is best to consult a doctor immediately, especially a mycologist. If there is no such expert, a dermatologist can help you.
There are many treatments for onychomycosis. Nowadays, in pharmacies, you can find many preparations for toenail fungus: ointments, creams, tablets and varnishes. The doctor recommends practicing oral medication and topical therapy at the same time. Therefore, the treatment will be the most complete and complex. It should be remembered that the treatment will take a long time-about 2-4 months.
Nail fungus medicine
The treatment plan must be chosen by the doctor. Self-medication is not worthwhile, because improper use of drugs can cause the development of fungal resistance to drugs and lead to further development of the disease. In addition, antifungal drugs are quite "strong" and have many contraindications. A variety of drugs can be used to prevent onychomycosis:
- External medicines (creams, ointments, solutions, varnishes);
- Oral medication (tablets, capsules).
Topical preparations
They are topical antifungal drugs. At the early stage of onychomycosis, when the fungal infection on 1-2 fingers is less than 30% of the nail surface, the prescription is prescribed.
The use of these drugs is related to some particularities. In order for the active substance to penetrate deeply into the structure of the nail and have a therapeutic effect, you need to go through two stages:
- Remove the nail plate area affected by the fungus. To this end, it is necessary to steam the nails in a soda soap solution for 10-15 minutes, then carefully remove the softened upper layer with a file and treat it with a disinfectant. The solution is simple: add 1 tablespoon to 2 liters of water. l. Baking soda and 5 grams of laundry soap.
- Treat with antifungal fungicides. The affected nails should be remedied (ointment, gel, varnish).
Antifungals in the form of varnishes are very popular. Just apply it to the affected area of the nail twice a week. The course of treatment is until the symptoms of onychomycosis have completely disappeared.
In addition, in local preparations, keratin should be distinguished. It is a painless and cheap alternative that can be used to remove affected nails. With the help of these funds, you can soften the cuticle of the nail plate, which will then be rejected. These drugs should be used when the area of the fungus exceeds 40%. The application method is as follows:
- Steam your feet with a solution of soda and soap;
- Use a file to polish the surface of the board;
- Free lubrication with selected ingredients;
- Cover the treatment area with tape.
This type of operation must be performed every 3-4 days. As a result, healthy nails should replace diseased nails.
Oral drugs
These are drugs for nail fungus and can be taken orally in the form of tablets or capsules. These treatments are prescribed in advanced cases where the fungus infects more than 50% of the nail surface and is actively developing.
Oral fungal drugs are toxic and have many contraindications. Especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney and liver disease, do not get drunk. In order to reduce the risk of side effects, such drugs are prescribed in a short course of treatment.
We strongly recommend that you check the medication dosage and the course of treatment with your doctor. All situations are individual.
Folk remedies for nail fungus
Folk remedies for onychomycosis on toenails can only work in the early stages of the disease. Anti-fungal properties are inherent in many factories and are a temporary remedy for home first aid kits and refrigerators.
The following folk remedies are very popular:
- iodine.It has obvious bactericidal and fungicidal properties. The solution should be used twice a day to treat diseased nails and skin (1 drop per nail). Course: one month. Indeed, this method has drawbacks-fingers turn yellow and sometimes burns.
- Tea Shiitake Mushrooms. . . Peel off a small piece of mushroom and chop it. Apply gruel to the affected nails, do not rinse. Next, apply the antiseptic film and wear tight socks. This process must be performed three times until the diseased nail plate falls off and new nails grow.
- Vinegar 9%. . . soak your nails with acetic acid overnight, then put on socks. Save it until morning. You can also take a bath. Pour the vinegar into a bowl of warm water and steam your nails for 15 minutes. Each procedure should be performed every day until the fungal symptoms disappear.
- Birch tar. . . For onychomycosis, you need pure tar. If this is not the case, then tar soap will work. The product must be applied to the nails, fixed with a compress, and left overnight. Rinse off in the morning. Therefore, every day until complete recovery.
- Celandine. . . Use 1 liter of boiling water to brew the hay and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then mix with water in a ratio of 1: 1. Put your finger in the resulting solution for 30 minutes. Do it every day.
- Onion skin. . . 4 tablespoons l. Pour the onion skins into a glass of vodka, close the lid, and soak in a dark place for 2 weeks. The tincture produced should be lubricated with nails 4 times a day.
- Lavender oil, tea tree oil and olive oil.Mix in equal proportions, and then apply the composition to the affected nail plate. You need to use this home remedy every day before going to bed before putting on socks.
Although you can find many positive comments about the use of these folk remedies in the vast network, their effectiveness has not yet been scientifically proven. If you practice them, they are only used as an adjunct to medication. Of course, doctors should be warned about this.
Onychomycosis is a fungal nail disease that is difficult to eliminate. Only by adopting comprehensive therapies can positive results be achieved. You should not act as a "doctor" and make a treatment plan for yourself. Most drugs are contraindicated and may cause side effects. The best way to treat fungus can only be recommended by experts. The above-mentioned drugs and their analogs are suitable for the treatment of onychomycosis that occurs not only on the feet but also on the fingers of the hands.