Comprehensive treatment regimen for toenail fungus

Mycosis is a disease that begins almost imperceptibly for the patient, but ends just as badly.It 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 process it.It is important to choose a treatment regimen that will be relevant in this case.Usually this is complex therapy, which involves 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 mushrooms.In fact, it is hardly felt in the first month.However, the disease progresses rapidly and steadily.First, a person notices small spots on the nails.They begin to grow gradually.Lines appear, the nail loses its natural shine and takes on a yellow hue.

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 smell;
• Appearance of areas of thickening or thinning;
• The plaque literally crumbles and leaves 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 should be aware of the risk of confusing the disease with another disease.In this case, the 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 potential therapy.The choice 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 the treatment is prescribed to pregnant women, it will have many nuances.

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

Local therapy

It can be prescribed only in an early stage of the disease.It consists in taking local medications with local action.These may include the following medications:

• Therapeutic varnishes;
• Solution;
• Ointments and creams;
• Different serums.

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

How is the therapy carried out?Various medical medications should be applied regularly to the affected areas.It is recommended that healthy nails be lubricated twice a week, so that the infection does not spread to them.These procedures should be combined with shoe disinfection.

The procedure is required because fungal microorganisms remain on shoes and personal items.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 coating.To destroy a fungal infection, it is enough to put them in the shoes at night.

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

Local treatment has the following advantages:

1. cheap cost of drugs;
2. Ease of use;
3. Most products can be used during pregnancy, as they do not penetrate the blood circulation system;
4. It is indicated in children;
5. The minimum number of contraindications and side effects.

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

Healing varnish

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

• Transparent color, and therefore the drug will not be visible;
• Almost immediately after application, you can wear a sock, and therefore such therapy will not distract a person from daily activities;
• Varnish creates a dense film on the surface of the plate, which protects against the appearance of bacterial complications;
• Fast effect;
• Effective restoration of the normal appearance of the plate;
• Unlike most other drugs, you only need to apply the product a few times a week.Therefore, the therapy will be as heavy as possible in terms of time;
• The possibility of use as prophylactic agents after a person has gotten rid of the disease;
• After just a few uses you can see the effect.

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

Systemic therapy

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

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

The basis of such therapy are animicotics.They can be used only if prescribed by a doctor, as drugs have not only advantages in the form of a powerful effect, but also disadvantages.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 last 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 must take the pills every day throughout the course;
2. Short.Taking medications ends before a healthy nail grows;
3. Intermittently.You need to take some 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 break from them.However, the time off will exceed the duration of the course.

The choice 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. Minimal side effects;
2. Minimal harm to the patient;
3. The possibility of taking increased doses of drugs for a short time;
4. The possibility of safe use in case of weakened immunity, typical for mycosis.

Pulse therapy may consist of taking tablets for one week at three-week intervals.You should take some similar courses.Another possible treatment regimen for toenail fungus is to take medication once a week.

Complex therapy

This is the most popular and effective method of treatment.It combines the advantages of systemic and local therapy.The infection is destroyed both internally and externally.It is worth noting that fungi penetrate into the blood.It also develops on the surface of the nail.Comprehensive treatment of nail fungus will help to completely eliminate it.The set of impacts may include:

• 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 can also include various procedures.For example, this:

• Laser therapy.It is an effective substitute for local remedies.For a complete cure, you need to complete a course of 6-10 sessions;
• Cleaning the hardware.Includes a therapeutic pedicure.This procedure will not cure the fungus, but it will eliminate the damage caused by mycosis.

Traditional recipes can be present as part of complex therapy.For example, these can 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 let it happen.It is important for people who have recently recovered from mycosis, because they are at risk of relapse.Preventive measures can be as follows:

• Prohibition of wearing someone else's slippers;
• Combating sweaty feet;
• Periodic treatment of nails with preventive agents;
• Disinfection of floors at home;
• Compliance with personal hygiene measures;
• Care for the feet and hands, preventing the appearance of cracks in them.

Let's summarize.Mycosis is a common disease, and therefore many methods of its treatment have been invented.They include taking different 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.