A comprehensive treatment regimen for toenail fungus

Mycosis is a disease that begins almost imperceptibly to the patient, but it ends equally sadly.Grow under the influence of fungal infection.It penetrates deep inside and literally feeds on the nail plate.This disease does not go away on its own.It will take a long time to treat it.It is important to choose a treatment regimen that will be relevant in this case.Usually this is a complex therapy, which involves the use of several agents that mutually enhance each other's effects.

damage to the nail plate on the toes due to fungus

Disease symptoms

Many people think that it is almost impossible not to see the appearance of fungus.Indeed, it cannot be felt in the first month.However, the disease progresses rapidly and steadily.First, one sees small spots on the nails.They began to grow gradually.Stripes appear, nails lose their natural shine and acquire a yellow color.

In the future, this disease is really difficult not to see, because it shows itself with the following symptoms:

  • Nails turn yellow or black;
  • Unpleasant smell;
  • The appearance of areas of thickening or thinning;
  • The plate literally collapses and moves from the nail bed.

The risk that the manifestations of mycosis may be similar to the symptoms of other diseases should be taken into account.Therefore, you need to be aware of the risk of confusing this disease with other diseases.In this case, the treatment will be useless and may cause harm.To avoid such a situation, it is necessary to contact a specialist for diagnosis.

Basic treatment regimen

There are three main types of therapy possible.The choice of treatment regimen is based on the following factors:

  1. Localization of disease;
  2. Stage of mycosis;
  3. Age of the patient;
  4. If the treatment is prescribed to a pregnant woman, it will have many nuances.

Therapy should be tailored based on the characteristics of the individual case.

Local therapy

Can only be prescribed in the early stages of the disease.Consists of taking topical drugs with local action.These may include the following medications:

  • Therapeutic varnish;
  • Settlement;
  • Ointments and creams;
  • Various serums.

Topical therapy may include the use of a keratolytic patch to remove the nail plate.They are preferred to other products, because the dense texture of the composition allows it to be used only on the nails, avoiding the adjacent skin.If these conditions are not met, Burns will appear on the skin.

How is therapy conducted?Various medicinal drugs should be applied regularly to the affected area.It is advisable to lubricate healthy nails several times a week so that the infection does not spread to them.This procedure must be combined with shoe disinfection.

This procedure is necessary because fungal microorganisms remain on shoes and personal items.If they are not destroyed, they will return to a healthy area.

To disinfect shoes, there are special products sold that do not leave marks or odors.You can also use UV liner.To destroy fungal infections, soak them in your shoes overnight.

Socks, bedding and personal items can be boiled.When washing automatically, you can only set the washing machine to antibacterial mode.It assumes a temperature of 90 degrees, where bacteria and fungal microorganisms cannot survive.

Local treatment has the following advantages:

  1. Cheap drug cost;
  2. Ease of use;
  3. Most products can be used during pregnancy, because they do not penetrate the circulatory system;
  4. Shown in children;
  5. The number of contraindications and side effects is minimal.

Local medicines soften the skin, quickly restore the previous appearance of the nail, and relieve discomfort.

spray to treat toenail fungus

Curing varnish

There are special varnishes for mycosis.They are often prescribed by doctors and are popular among patients.Among the advantages of its use are:

  • The color is transparent, and therefore the medicine will not be visible;
  • Almost immediately after application, you can wear socks, and therefore such therapy will not distract a person from everyday activities;
  • Varnish creates a dense film on the surface of the plate, which protects against the appearance of bacterial complications;
  • Quick effect;
  • Effective restoration of the normal appearance of the plate;
  • Unlike many other medications, you only need to apply the product a few times a week.Therefore, therapy would be impossible as possible in terms of time;
  • Possible use as a prophylactic agent after a person has eliminated the disease;
  • After just a few uses, you can see the results.

However, when using varnish, there is a very significant drawback - a large cost of funds.Considering the duration of therapy, this is a large amount.

Systemic therapy

This type of treatment involves the exclusive use of tablets.Local funds are not used.Systemic therapy is prescribed in the following cases:

  • Advanced stage of the disease;
  • Lesions involve more than 2 fingers;
  • The use of local medicines does not produce real results;
  • The infectious process affects the germinal area of the plate;
  • The fungus begins to spread to the skin.

The basis of such therapy is animycotics.They can only be used if prescribed by a doctor, because drugs not only have advantages in the form of strong effects, but also disadvantages.Its disadvantages include many contraindications, as well as possible side effects.

The course of therapy takes a long time.Treatment can be considered complete when a healthy nail has grown.If mycosis affects the hands, it will take from 4 months to six months.Toenails grow slowly, and therefore the course can last for a year.

Systemic drugs can be used according to the following regimen:

  1. Classic.You need to take pills every day during the course;
  2. Short.Taking medications ends before healthy nails grow;
  3. A moment.You need to take some courses.Between them follows an interval, the duration of which is the course time;
  4. Pulse Therapy.In this case, taking pills will also be combined with a break from them.However, the break time will exceed the duration of the course.

The selection of the optimal treatment regimen is carried out by a dermatologist, or a doctor who specializes in fungal infections.

Why has pulse therapy become so popular?

More and more often, doctors prescribe pulse therapy.Its popularity is due to the following advantages:

  1. Minimal side effects;
  2. Minimal danger to the patient;
  3. The possibility of taking an increased dose of the drug for a short time;
  4. Possible safe use in cases of weak immunity, which is typical for mycosis.

Pulse therapy can consist of taking tablets for a week at three-week intervals.You need to take several similar courses.Another possible treatment regimen for toenail fungus is to take medication once a week.

Taking pills for toenail fungus

Complex therapy

This is the most popular and effective method of treatment.It combines the advantages of systemic and local therapy.This infection is destroyed from the inside and from the outside.Keep in mind that the fungus penetrates the blood.It also develops on the nail surface.Comprehensive treatment of toenail fungus will help eliminate it completely.A set of effects may include:

  • The use of tablets (they can be used using pulse therapy methods);
  • Use of local medicines.This can be varnish, solution, cream.

Sometimes tablets and topical medications are different forms of the same medication.In other cases, different drugs are prescribed, but they complement each other.

Complex therapy can also include various procedures.For example, this:

  • Laser therapy.It is an effective substitute for local medicines.To heal completely, you need to complete a course of 6-10 sessions;
  • Hardware Cleaning.Including a therapeutic pedicure.This procedure will not cure the fungus, but it will eliminate the damage caused by mycosis.

Traditional recipes may be present as part of complex therapy.For example, this can be a hot bath with sea salt.

foot bath for fungal infections

Preventive measures

Prevention is important not only for people who are not infected with fungus and do not want to allow this to happen.It is important for people who have recently recovered from mycosis, because they are at risk of recurrence.Preventive measures may be as follows:

  • Prohibition of wearing other people's slippers;
  • Fights sweaty feet;
  • Periodic treatment of nails with preventive agents;
  • Floor cleaning at home;
  • Compliance with personal hygiene measures;
  • Care of feet and hands, preventing the appearance of cracks on them.

Let's summarize.Mycosis is a common disease, and therefore many methods of its treatment have been invented.They involve taking various drugs and different schemes for their use.Complex therapy remains the most effective measure.However, if the patient, for some reason, cannot use such a treatment regimen, there are many more.For example, during pregnancy, local medicines are used.