The main provoking factor of nail fungus is infection - the penetration of pathogens into the nail plate. Therefore, in order to defeat the disease, doctors are prescribed various remedies for the fungus on the feet. In the pharmacy chain, they are currently offered in a variety of tablets, sprays, as well as varnishes and ointments. With a timely and complex effect, the disease can be treated in a short time.
Types of nail fungus medication
In direct dependence on the clinical features of the fungal infection, as well as the prevalence of the disease, the specialist will recommend the best therapeutic option.
In onychomycosis, drugs are selected from the following types:
- With fungicidal activity - effectively inhibits the activity of most subgroups of fungi.
- Agents from the allylamine subgroup are effective against mold and yeast microorganisms.
- Morpholine-based preparations - suppress the viability of fungi due to a violation of the structure of their membrane.
- Other medicines: based on undecylenic acid, with essential oils, with herbal ingredients.
When choosing a particular antifungal, the doctor must consider its price, since therapeutic measures must be carried out over a long period of time - sometimes up to six months or more.
Topical preparations
In order to suppress the fungal flora directly in the tissue of the nail, experts are considering drugs with a local antifungal effect. The pharmaceutical industry makes them in different forms:
- Ointments, creams;
- Lacquers;
- Sprays;
- Serums, solutions;
- keratolytic plasters.
As a rule, the listed means are effective in the initial stage of onychomycosis - with damage from fungal microorganisms, no more than 2/3 of the nail surface on 1-2 toes. In other cases, local therapy is carried out as an additional measure to combat the disease.
The use of varnishes and antifungal creams has their own properties - in order to accelerate the penetration of the active substances of the drug from the inside of the mushroom, preliminary preparation is required:
- Steaming the affected part of the nail - for example, in a soda salt solution during a foot bath;
- Removing the diseased part of the nail - for example, with pedicure scissors or with a file;
- Applying a disinfectant solution;
- Treatment with antifungal drugs.
A healthy nail will gradually grow back. However, this requires patience.
Systemic drugs
With a massive infection with fungal microorganisms (a large area of the lesion, infection not only of the nails, but also of other parts of the body with vivid clinical manifestations, the formation of complications), doctors resort to systemic drugs. Its aim is to suppress the growth and reproduction of pathogens in the fungus as much as possible.
Of course, these drugs have their own advantages:
- the ability to penetrate deeper into the tissue from which the local agents are deprived;
- Maintaining the active ingredient concentration at the application sites for a long time - up to several weeks, even months;
- less laborious application, especially with several foci of fungi - it is enough to take tablets 1-2 times a day;
- Economy - As a rule, 1 bottle of the drug from the mushroom is enough for the course of treatment.
Of the shortcomings of antifungal drugs, doctors state:
- increased toxicity to the digestive system and the patient's body as a whole;
- the inability to use in certain subgroups of patients - for example, children, pregnant women, as well as the elderly;
- Some systemic antifungal drugs are lowered to be introduced into the body only in an inpatient setting.
To reduce the risk of side effects from taking drugs, experts prescribe them in short courses - in complex therapy along with local varnishes or sprays.
List of effective drugs for toenail fungus
It is difficult for a person who does not know the features and mechanisms of antifungal effects of drugs to find out more quickly which drugs will have the desired therapeutic effect. In the arsenal of a modern mycologist there are many effective and proven remedies for fungi:
- Antifungal varnishes.
- Fungicidal creams are advisable to help the fungus penetrate shallowly into the nail or damage the soft tissues adjacent to the fingers.
- Keratolytics are an excellent hardware alternative to get rid of the fungus on your feet. They are advisable for extensive lesions.
- Systemic antimycotics - necessary for severe nail fungus.
Self-medication of a fungal disease is absolutely unacceptable. The best medicines for fungal microorganisms should be selected by a doctor. In this case, the treatment is effective, quick and safe.
Advantages and disadvantages of drugs from the allylamine subgroup
In the pharmacy network, drugs from the allylamine subgroup are offered in various dosage forms:
- Cream,
- Pills,
- spray.
The drug is a prominent representative of antifungal drugs from the subgroup of allylamines. Hence, it is inherent to have a potent antifungal effect against most fungal microorganisms.
When taken orally, the active component of the drug quickly accumulates in the tissues. At the same time, the systemic effect can last for a long time due to the high concentration of the fungicide in the nail bed. Thanks to this feature, the treatment time for onychomycosis can be shortened significantly.
Contraindications are indicated in the attached detailed instructions from the manufacturer:
- individual human overreaction to the main and additional components of the drug;
- Children of the infected - children up to 10–12 years of age;
- decompensated diseases of the liver cells as well as the kidneys.
With extreme caution, an antifungal agent is prescribed for people prone to allergic diseases. Against the background of therapy, undesirable effects sometimes appear:
- A headache;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- Joint and muscle pain;
- allergic rashes;
- Sleep disorders;
- Hair loss.
The cost of the drug depends on the type of release, the region and the volume of the bottle.
Features of the use of drugs based on terbinafine
Mycologists start treating antifungal drugs with terbinafine-based drugs, as the manufacturer makes the drug in a variety of forms - from tablets and solutions to paints and sprays. This expands the possibilities of getting rid of nail fungus even at an advanced stage in the course of the disease.
With the correct selection of the antifungal therapy regimen, positive results are seen from the end of the second week from the time of using these agents. A particularly successful combination is spraying the active ingredient in the form of a spray and taking tablets.
However, the main advantage of the drug against the fungus is a wide range of local forms. There are paints, ointments and sprays on the pharmacy shelf. It is enough to apply them selectively in order to avoid undesirable systemic complications. In this case, the concentration of the active ingredient remains high for a long time. In this way, you can use the drug not only for therapeutic, but also prophylactic purposes, to prevent re-infection of the nails. It is extremely rare that a drug against a fungus can provoke:
- Rashes;
- increased local burning;
- uncomfortable itching after application.
The uncontrolled intake of tablets can lead to functional disorders of the immune system, the nervous system and the digestive and musculoskeletal system.
Treatment of mushrooms based on fluconazole
A modern powerful remedy, usually containing fluconazole, is introduced into the regimen of antifungal therapy, even in the case of infection of the toenails, with massive lesions from fungal microorganisms. Available in two forms - tablets and capsules.
The manufacturer's instructions for use describe in detail the best scheme for influencing the fungus in different types of onychomycosis. Since long-term use of tablets is required for treatment, the mycologist selects the frequency of administration and the duration of therapy individually.
In combination with local forms of antifungal agents - varnishes, sprays, drugs of this group in capsules have the required therapeutic effect. This will accelerate the recovery time many times - the nails will become clean and beautiful.
Contraindications to the drug:
- Children under 12 years of age;
- in women - the time of intrauterine loading of the fetus;
- Breastfeeding;
- severe dysfunction of the structure of the liver, as well as the renal tubules;
- individual hyperreaction.
The cost depends directly on whether the original active ingredient is used to make tablets. The drugs are reasonably priced. While its counterparts can cause significant financial damage.
Alternative remedies for nail fungus
In addition to the advertised antifungal drugs, alternative drugs are coping with the disease. Popular with doctors and patients are:
- Antiseptics - have a pronounced disinfectant and bactericidal effect, while such drugs are enough to be used once a day for two months.
- Oral freshener with menthol - in the form of foot baths, for example, in combination with apple cider vinegar, the duration of the procedure is about 15-20 minutes a day;
- Boric acid-based products - used to remove nail fungus when used correctly.
Success in the fight against the fungus on the toenails largely depends on the timeliness of the antifungal treatment that has started. Even a single small spot can indicate the penetration of fungal microorganisms into the thickness of the nail plate. It is necessary to deal with them in a complex way - with the help of tablets, ointments, medicinal varnishes.