The main trigger of nail fungus is infection - the penetration of pathogens into the nail plate. Therefore, doctors prescribe various remedies for athlete's foot to defeat the disease. At present, they are available in a wide range in the pharmacy chain - tablets, sprays, as well as varnishes and ointments. The disease can be solved in a short time with a timely and complex effect.
Types of nail fungus drugs
Depending on the clinical features of the fungal infection, as well as the direct spread of the disease, the specialist will recommend the best therapy.
Drugs with onychomycosis are selected from the following types:
- With a fungicidal effect - effectively inhibits the activity of most subgroups of fungi.
- Means from the subgroup of alilamine are effective against mold and yeast microorganisms.
- Morpholine-based preparations - suppress the viability of fungi due to disruption of the membrane structure.
- Other drugs: based on undesylene acid, with essential oils, herbal substances.
When choosing a particular antifungal agent, the doctor should take into account the cost, because therapeutic measures should be carried out for a long time - sometimes up to six months or more.
Local preparations
To suppress the fungal flora directly in the nail tissue, experts consider local antifungal action drugs. The pharmaceutical industry produces them in several forms:
- ointments, creams;
- varnishes;
- sprays;
- serums, solutions;
- keratolytic patches.
As a rule, the listed funds will be effective in the early stages of onychomycosis - in the case of damage by fungal microorganisms, not more than 2/3 of the nail area on 1-2 fingers. In other cases, topical therapy is used as an additional measure to combat the disease.
The use of varnishes and antifungal creams has its own characteristics - to accelerate the penetration of the active components of the drug from the fungus requires initial preparation:
- evaporate the affected part of the nail - for example, in a soda-salt solution during a foot bath;
- removal of the diseased part of the nail - for example, with pedicure scissors or a document;
- to apply disinfectant solution;
- treatment with antifungal drugs.
A healthy nail will gradually grow back. But it takes patience.
Systemic drugs
In case of mass infection with fungal microorganisms (a large area of the lesion, infection with live clinical manifestations not only of the nails, but other parts of the body, the occurrence of complications), doctors resort to systemic medications. The goal is to stifle growth as much as possible, as well as increase the pathogenic agents of the fungus.
Of course, these drugs have their advantages:
- ability to penetrate deeper into tissues deprived of local funds;
- longer-term maintenance of drug concentrations at the site of application - up to several weeks or even months;
- less laborious use, especially with a few fungal infections - it is enough to take tablets 1-2 times a day;
- cost effectiveness - as a rule, 1 bottle of mushrooms is enough for a course of drug treatment.
Doctors point to the shortcomings of antifungal drugs:
- increased toxicity to the digestive system and the patient's body as a whole;
- inability to be used in certain subgroups of patients - for example, in children, pregnant women and the elderly;
- some systemic antifungal drugs are injected into the body only in an inpatient setting.
To reduce the risk of side effects without taking medication, specialists prescribe them in short courses - complex therapy with complex varnishes or sprays.
List of effective drugs for nail fungus
It is difficult for a person who does not know the characteristics and mechanisms of the antifungal effect of pharmaceutical drugs to quickly determine which drugs will have the desired therapeutic effect. In the arsenal of a modern mycologist, there are many powerful, proven tools for the fungus:
- Antifungal varnishes.
- Fungal killer creams are recommended to keep the fungus from penetrating the nail or to damage the adjacent soft tissues of the fingers.
- Keratolytic agents are an excellent alternative to the apparatus to get rid of fungus on the feet, it is recommended for large lesions.
- Systemic antifungals - necessary for severe nail fungus.
Self-treatment of a fungal disease is completely unacceptable. The best medication regimen for fungal microorganisms should be selected by a physician. In this case, treatment will be effective, fast and safe.
Advantages and disadvantages of drugs from the subgroup of allylamine
In the pharmacy network, drugs from the subgroup of allylamine are available in different dosage forms:
- cream,
- pills,
- spray.
The drug is a prominent representative of antifungal drugs from the subgroup of allylamines. For this reason, it has a strong antifungal effect against most fungal microorganisms.
When taken orally, the active component of the drug rapidly accumulates in the tissues. At the same time, the systemic effect may last for a long time due to the high concentration of fungicidal drug in the nail bed. Due to this feature, the duration of treatment of onychomycosis can be significantly reduced.
Contraindications are specified in the attached detailed instructions of the manufacturer:
- individual hypersensitivity reaction to the main and additional components of the drug;
- infected children - children under 10-12 years;
- decompensated disorders of liver cells, as well as kidneys.
With extreme caution, a remedy for the fungus is prescribed for people prone to allergic conditions. Sometimes there are undesirable effects in the background of therapy:
- headache;
- dyspeptic diseases;
- joint along with muscle pain;
- allergic rashes;
- sleep disorders;
- hair loss.
The price of the drug will depend on the form of release, region, volume of the bottle.
Features of the use of terbinafine-based drugs
Mycologists are beginning antifungal treatment with terbinafine-based drugs, as the manufacturer produces the drug in several forms - from tablets and solutions to varnishes and sprays. This increases the chances of getting rid of nail fungus as the disease progresses.
With the right choice of antifungal therapy regimen, positive results are noticeable at the end of the second week from the moment of use of these funds. Spraying the active substance in the form of a spray and taking tablets is a particularly successful combination.
However, the main advantage of the drug against fungi is a wide range of local forms. That is, there are varnishes, ointments and sprays on the pharmacy shelf. It is sufficient to apply it appropriately to avoid unwanted systemic complications. In this case, the concentration of the active substance remains high for a long time. This allows the drug to be used not only for therapeutic but also for prophylactic purposes - to prevent re-infection of the nails. It is extremely rare for a drug to cause a fungus:
- rashes;
- increased local combustion;
- Unpleasant itching after application.
When taken uncontrolled, the tablets can cause disorders of the immune, nervous and digestive and musculoskeletal systems.
Fluconazole-based fungal treatment
A modern strong substance containing fluconazole is usually included in the antifungal therapy regimen in case of infection of the toenails with massive lesions by fungal microorganisms. Available in two forms - tablets and capsules.
The manufacturer's instructions describe in detail the best scheme to affect the fungus for different types of onychomycosis. As the treatment will require long-term use of tablets, the mycologist selects the frequency of application and duration of therapy individually.
Together with local antifungal dosage forms - varnishes, sprays, capsules, drugs of this group will have the necessary therapeutic effect. This increases the recovery time many times - the nails become clean and beautiful.
Contraindications:
- Children under 12 years of age;
- in women - the intrauterine period of the fetus;
- lactation;
- severe functional disorders of the structure of the liver, as well as renal tubules;
- individual hyperreaction.
The cost directly depends on the use of the original active ingredient for the production of tablets. The drugs are very affordable. However, colleagues can cause significant material damage.
Alternative remedies for nail fungus
In addition to the advertised antifungal drugs, alternative drugs will also cope with the disease. Popular among doctors and patients:
- Antiseptics - have a pronounced disinfectant and bactericidal effect, such drugs are sufficient to apply twice a day;
- Oral refreshment with menthol - used in the form of foot baths, for example, in combination with apple cider vinegar, the duration of the procedure is about 15-20 minutes per day;
- Boric acid-based products - to get rid of nail fungus when used properly.
The success of the fight against toenail fungus largely depends on the timeliness of antifungal treatment. A single small stain can indicate that fungal microorganisms have penetrated the thickness of the nail plate. They need to be combated in a complex way - with the help of tablets, ointments, varnishes.