Comprehensive treatment regimen for toenail fungus

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

Symptoms of the disease

Many people think that it is almost impossible not to notice the appearance of fungus.Indeed, it hardly makes itself felt in the first month.However, the disease progresses rapidly and steadily.First, a person notices small spots on the nails.They begin to gradually grow.Stripes appear, the nail loses its natural shine and acquires a yellow tint.

In the future, the disease is really difficult not to notice, as it manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• The nail becomes yellow or black;
• Unpleasant odor;
• The appearance of thickening or thin areas;
• The plate literally crumbles and moves away from the nail bed.

The risk that the manifestation 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 the disease with another disease.In this case, treatment will be completely useless and may even cause harm.To prevent such a situation, it is necessary to contact a specialist for diagnosis.

Basic treatment regimens

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

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

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

Local therapy

Can only be prescribed at an early stage of the disease.Consists of taking topical medications with local action.These may include the following medications:

• Therapeutic varnishes;
• Solutions;
• Ointments and creams;
• Various serums.

Topical therapy may include the use of keratolytic patches to remove the nail plate.They are more preferable to other products, since the dense texture of the composition allows it to be applied only to the nail, avoiding adjacent skin.If this condition is not met, burns will appear on the skin.

How is therapy carried out?Various medicinal medications should be regularly applied to the affected areas.It is advisable to lubricate healthy nails a couple of times a week so that the infection does not spread to them.These procedures must be combined with shoe disinfection.

The procedure is required because fungal microorganisms remain on shoes and personal belongings.If they are not destroyed, they will return to healthy areas.

To disinfect shoes, there are special products on sale that do not leave stains or odors.You can also use UV liners.To destroy a fungal infection, just put them in your shoes overnight.

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

Local treatment has the following advantages:

1. Inexpensive cost of medicines;
2. Ease of use;
3. Most products can be used during pregnancy, as they do not penetrate the circulatory system;
4. Indicated in children;
5. Minimal number of contraindications and side effects.

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

Healing varnishes

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

• Transparent color, and therefore the drug will not be visible;
• Almost immediately after application, you can put on a sock, and therefore such therapy will not distract a person from everyday activities;
• The 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 most other medications, you only need to apply the product a few times a week.Therefore, therapy will be as unburdensome as possible in terms of time;
• Possibility of use as prophylactic agents after a person has gotten rid of the disease;
• After just a couple of uses you can see the effect.

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

Systemic therapy

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

• Advanced stage of the disease;
• The lesion involved more than 2 fingers;
• The use of local remedies did not produce tangible results;
• The infectious process affected the germinal area of the plate;
• The fungus began to spread to the skin.

The basis of such therapy is animicotics.They can only be used if prescribed by a doctor, since the drugs have not only advantages in the form of a powerful effect, but also disadvantages.The 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 completely healthy nail has grown back.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 regimens:

1. Classic.You need to take the pills every day throughout the course;
2. Short.Taking medications ends before a healthy nail grows;
3. Intermittent.You need to take several courses.Between them follow intervals, the duration of which is the course time;
4. Pulse therapy.In this case, taking the pills will also be combined with a rest from them.However, the rest time will exceed the duration of the course.

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

Why has pulse therapy become so popular?

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

1. Minimum side effects;
2. Minimal harm to the patient;
3. Possibility of taking increased doses of medications for a short time;
4. Possibility of safe use in case of weakened 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 taking the medication once a week.

Complex therapy

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

• The use of tablets (they can be used using the pulse therapy method);
• Use of local remedies.These can be varnishes, solutions, creams.

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

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

• Laser therapy.It is an effective replacement for local remedies.For a complete cure, you need to complete a course of 6-10 sessions;
• Hardware cleaning.Includes 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, these could be hot baths with sea salt.

Preventive measures

Prevention is important not only for people who have not been infected with the 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 relapse.Preventive measures may be as follows:

• Prohibition on wearing someone else's slippers;
• Fighting sweaty feet;
• Periodic treatment of nails with preventative agents;
• Disinfection of floors in the house;
• Compliance with personal hygiene measures;
• Care for 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 others.For example, during pregnancy, local remedies are used.