Nail fungus is a very unpleasant disease, it is easy to catch it: just go to the pool, the beach or wear someone else's slippers.However, it is not easy to get rid of the disease: fungal spores not only affect the nail plates, but also penetrate the deepest layers of the skin and become firmly established there.
In advanced cases, the fungus goes into a chronic stage and treatment is delayed for years.Therefore, it is very important to immediately pay attention to the symptoms and start therapy with special drugs, which are special varnishes for nail fungus.
Why is the mushroom dangerous?
Fungal infections enter the body through micro cracks in the skin for various reasons.For example, this can happen when a person walks barefoot on the beach or on the floor, wears someone else's shoes, or performs a pedicure with tools other than their own.If pathogenic organisms can get a foothold, they gradually penetrate all layers of the skin and increase the area.
The infection thrives in warm and humid conditions, making the toes an ideal place for the fungus to grow, especially if the person sweats excessively.In this case, self-treatment is useless and will not bring success.The only way out: the use of ointments, creams, medicated nail paints.
The difficulty of treating the disease is also the fact that there are more than five hundred species of fungi (and more than seventy thousand in total) that can harm human health.Each type should be treated only with drugs specially designed for it, otherwise even the best medicine will be ineffective.If you notice suspicious symptoms, you should consult a dermatologist before starting treatment.
The fungus presents itself with the following symptoms:
- peeling, burning, itching, redness between the folds of the fingers;
- the appearance of suspicious spots on the skin;
- after some time, the formation of bubbles that form cracks and ulcers is possible;
- begins to change the structure of the nail: it bends, formations in the form of waves appear on the nail plate, it becomes thicker or thinner and begins to collapse;
- White or yellowish spots appear on the nails, which are not characteristic of healthy nails.
If you pay attention to the symptoms in time, if you notice the skin problems on your feet, the deterioration of the nail condition and seek help immediately, you can get rid of the disease within two months.Therapy usually consists of ointments, creams and tablets.Recently, special preparations with medicated nail varnishes have appeared, the main purpose of which is to stop and destroy the fungus that affects the nail plate.
How does varnish work against fungi?
Antifungal nail polish helps best in the first stage of disease development.The principle of operation is simple: after filling the top layer with a file and degreasing the plate with alcohol, apply the product to the nail, after which the medicinal components included in its composition are easily filtered through the layer of the plate due to its liquid structure and begin to destroy pathogens.
After the varnish dries, the air stops penetrating the fungal spores, which is important for its development, which inhibits their vital activity.As a result, the fungi, deprived of air and seriously exposed to the medicinal components contained in the varnish, die.
Antifungal nail polish dries in about three to four minutes.After completing the procedure, do not forget to carefully close the bottle and disinfect all the tools used to treat the nail and the skin around it.
If the type of fungus is correctly identified and the correct remedy is applied, it will be possible to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms after a certain period of time.Another point worth paying attention to is that the use of varnish alone is not enough for effective treatment, as the skin around the nail also contains fungal spores.
In order for the therapy to be successful, the treatment should be comprehensive: in addition to varnish, accompanying creams and tablets should also be used.For example, a well-known company produces not only medicinal varnishes against fungi, but also ointments that help the body cope with the disease.
Before choosing a remedy, you should carefully study the instructions and make sure that it is directed against the type of fungus found in the body (in principle, a doctor should do this, but it does not hurt to make sure yourself).It is also worth paying attention to the number of therapeutic components and their concentration.
If the disease is at the end of the second - the beginning of the third stage, the fungal spores will already be strong enough, and if a weaker tool is used, they will begin to fight it, develop immunity and become more resistant.Therefore, when treating a disease, it is necessary to choose stronger means.
Brands and their influence
Currently, there are many antifungal varnishes, and since each case is individual, opinions about their effectiveness are different and often contradictory.According to reviews, they help some and not others.The second option is related to the improper preparation of the nail plate or the use of a varnish that is not intended for the type of fungus that affects the nails.
Antifungal varnishes with the active ingredient amorolfin are especially popular.All of them have a wide spectrum of activity and are designed to destroy the main types of pathogenic microorganisms.Which one is better to choose depends mainly on the type of fungus that affects the nails, so they should be used only after the tests have determined the type of pathogens and the instructions for the drug show that the medicated nail polish copes.
French varnish against nail fungus is an expensive drug, the active ingredient is amorolfine, the principle of its action is based on the destruction of the cell membrane of the fungus.It not only destroys already formed cells, but also prevents spores from multiplying and spreading, occupying new territories.The duration of treatment with this drug, according to reviews, lasts from two months to two years, depending on the stage of the fungal infection.
Another product, our manufacturer's product containing formic acid, not only fights pathogens well, but can also be used as a preventive measure.The active substance of the drug is polyvinyl acetate;it contains Bacillus bacteria, so it has biochemical activity.
A German varnish with the active ingredient cyclopyroxamine, the active ingredient of which is cyclopyrus, is considered effective.Opinions about this drug vary from extremely negative to positive, many agree that varnishes containing amorolfin are better.This may be because, unlike previous application methods, the manufacturer allows the varnish to be applied without filling the surface of the tile.
This is not the best application method because it is easier for the product to penetrate deeper into the treated nail.To make the varnish with cyclopiroxolamine more effective, it is better to straighten the nail plate.
How often you should apply antifungal nail polish depends largely on the disease and the treatment regimen prescribed by your doctor.Some products are used once a day, others - twice a week, when signs of recovery appear on the face, the interval between procedures can be increased.
Whichever drug is chosen for treatment, do not forget the importance of comprehensive treatment and the need to follow hygiene rules.When applying varnish, remember that the nail affected by the fungus must be treated with a separate tool: it is not recommended to file healthy and diseased nails with the same file or cut them with the same scissors.
You also may not give your manicure tools to others to use or buy tools from them to treat your nails.It is worth paying attention to strengthening immunity, taking vitamin and mineral complexes and proper nutrition.