Mycosis is a disease that begins almost imperceptibly for the patient but ends pitifully.Develops under the influence of fungal infection.It penetrates deep inside and literally eats into 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 an appropriate treatment regimen in this case.Usually this is a complex therapy, involving the use of multiple agents to enhance each other's effects.
Symptoms of the disease
Many people believe that it is almost impossible not to notice the appearance of mushrooms.Indeed, it is barely felt during the first month.However, the disease progresses rapidly and steadily.First, a person notices small spots on the nails.They begin to grow gradually.Stripes appear, the nail loses its natural shine and turns yellow.
In the future, this disease is really difficult to go unnoticed because it is manifested by the following symptoms:
- Nails turn yellow or black;
- Unpleasant odor;
- Appearance of thick or thin areas;
- The plate literally crumbled and moved away from the nail bed.
It is necessary to take into account the risk that the manifestations of fungal diseases may resemble symptoms of other diseases.Therefore, you need to be aware of the risk of confusing this disease with another disease.In this case, treatment will be completely useless, and may even be harmful.To prevent such a condition, it is necessary to contact a specialist for diagnosis.
Basic treatment regimen
There are three main types of possible therapy.The choice of treatment regimen is based on the following factors:
- localization of the disease;
- Stage of fungal disease;
- Age of the patient;
- If treatment is prescribed to pregnant women, it will have a lot of nuances.
Treatment should be tailored based on the characteristics of each case.
On-site treatment
Can be prescribed only in the early stages of the disease.Includes the use of topical medications with local effects.They may include the following medications:
- Therapeutic varnish;
- Solution;
- Ointments and creams;
- Different types of serums.
Topical therapy may include the use of keratolytic patches to remove the nail plate.They are more popular than other products, since the dense texture of the composition allows it to be applied only to the nails, avoiding the surrounding skin.If this condition is not met, burns will appear on the skin.
How is therapy performed?Various medications should be applied regularly to the affected areas.It is recommended to lubricate healthy nails several times a week so that the infection does not spread to them.These procedures must be combined with shoe disinfection.
This procedure is mandatory because fungal microorganisms remain on shoes and personal belongings.If not destroyed, they will return to the healthy zone.
To disinfect shoes, there are special products on sale that do not leave stains or odors.You can also use UV primer.To kill fungal infections, simply place them in your shoes overnight.
Socks, bedding and personal items can be boiled.When washing automatically, you only need to set the washing machine to antibacterial mode.It assumes a temperature of 90 degrees, where bacteria and fungal microorganisms cannot survive.
Topical treatment has the following advantages:
- Cheap drug costs;
- Easy to use;
- Most products can be used during pregnancy because they do not enter the circulatory system;
- Indications in children;
- Minimal number of contraindications and side effects.
Topical medication softens the skin, quickly restores the nail to its previous shape and relieves discomfort.
Healing paint
There are special varnishes for fungal diseases.They are often prescribed by doctors and are popular with patients.Among the advantages of using them are:
- The color is transparent so the medicine cannot be seen;
- Almost immediately after application, you can put on socks, 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;
- Effective quickly;
- Effectively restores the normal shape of the plate;
- Unlike most other medications, you only need to apply the product a few times a week.Therefore, the treatment will be as gentle as possible in terms of time;
- Possibility of use as a prophylactic after a person has recovered from the disease;
- After just a few uses you can see the results.
However, when using varnish, there is a very significant drawback - significant cost.Considering the treatment time, this is a significant amount.
Systemic therapy
This type of treatment involves the exclusive use of tablets.Local capital is not used.Systemic therapy is prescribed in the following cases:
- Advanced stage of the disease;
- Lesions spread more than 2 fingers;
- The use of topical remedies does not bring noticeable results;
- The infection process affects the germinal zone of the disc;
- The fungus begins to spread to the skin.
The basis of this therapy is animation.They can be used only if prescribed by a doctor, because the drug has not only advantages in its strong form of action, but also disadvantages.The disadvantages include many contraindications, as well as possible side effects.
The treatment process takes a long time.Treatment can be considered complete when completely healthy nails have grown back.If the fungal disease affects the hands, it will take from 4 months to six months.Toenails grow slowly, and therefore the treatment process can last a year.
Systemic drugs can be used according to the following regimen:
- Classic.You need to take your medicine every day during the course;
- Short.Dosing ends before healthy nails grow;
- Not continuously.You need to take some courses.Between them there are intervals of time, that interval being the duration of the course;
- Pulse therapy.In this case, taking medication will also be combined with rest.However, the rest period will exceed the duration of the course.
The choice of the optimal treatment regimen is made by a dermatologist, or a fungal infection specialist.
Why has pulse therapy become so popular?
More and more often, doctors prescribe pulse therapy.Its popularity is due to the following advantages:
- Minimal side effects;
- Minimal harm to the patient;
- Ability to use increased doses of the drug in a short period of time;
- Possibility of safe use in case of weakened immunity, typical for fungal diseases.
Pulse therapy may involve taking medication for a week at three-week intervals.You need to take some similar courses.Another possible treatment regimen for toenail fungus is taking medication once a week.
Complex therapy
This is the most popular and effective treatment method.It combines the advantages of systemic and local therapy.Infections are destroyed both internally and externally.It is worth noting that the fungus enters the blood.It also grows on the nail surface.Comprehensive toenail fungus treatment will help eliminate it completely.The set of impacts may include:
- The use of tablets (they can be used by pulse therapy);
- Use local remedies.This can be varnish, solution, cream.
Sometimes pills and topicals are different forms of the same drug.In other cases, different medications are prescribed but they effectively complement each other.
Complex therapy may also include many different procedures.For example, this:
- Laser therapy.It is an effective alternative to topical remedies.To completely recover, you need to complete a course of 6-10 sessions;
- Clean hardware.Includes a therapeutic pedicure.This procedure will not cure the fungus but will remove the damage caused by the fungus.
Traditional recipes can be present as part of complex therapy.For example, this could be a hot bath with sea salt.
preventive measures
Prevention is important not only for those who have not yet had a fungal infection and do not want this to happen.This is important for people who have just recovered from thrush because they are at risk of relapse.Preventive measures can be as follows:
- It is forbidden to wear other people's sandals;
- Anti-foot sweat;
- Periodic nail treatment with preventive agents;
- Disinfect indoor floors;
- Comply with personal hygiene measures;
- Care for feet and hands, preventing the appearance of cracks on them.
Let's summarize.Fungal disease is such a common disease that many treatments have been invented.They involve the use of many different drugs and different methods of administration.Complex therapy remains the most effective measure.However, if for some reason the patient cannot apply such a treatment regimen, there are still many other regimens available.For example, during pregnancy, topical remedies are used.