Mycosis is a disease that begins almost imperceptibly for the patient, but ends just as pathetically.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 groom her.It is important to choose a treatment regimen that will be relevant in this case.It is usually a complex treatment, involving the use of several factors that mutually enhance each other's effects.
Symptoms of the disease
Many people believe that it is almost impossible not to notice the appearance of the fungus.Indeed, it is not 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.Streaks 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 turns yellow or black.
- Bad smell;
- 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, the treatment will be completely useless and may even cause harm.To avoid such a situation, it is necessary to contact a specialist for diagnosis.
Basic treatment regimens
There are three main types of potential treatment.The choice of a treatment regimen is based on the following factors:
- Detection of the disease?
- Fungal stage?
- Age of the patient?
- If the treatment is prescribed to pregnant women, it will have many nuances.
Treatment should be tailored based on the characteristics of each case.
Local treatment
It can be prescribed only at an early stage of the disease.It consists in taking local drugs with local action.These may include the following medicines:
- Healing varnishes?
- Solutions?
- Ointments and creams.
- Various serums.
Topical treatment may include the use of keratolytic patches to remove the nail plate.They are more preferable than other products, since the dense texture of the composition allows it to be applied only to the nail, avoiding the adjacent skin.If this condition is not met, skin burns will occur.
How is the treatment done?Various medicinal drugs should be applied regularly to the affected areas.It is recommended to lubricate healthy nails twice a week to prevent the infection from spreading.These procedures must be combined with shoe disinfection.
The procedure is necessary because fungal microorganisms remain in shoes and personal items.If not destroyed, they will return to healthy areas.
Special products are available for disinfecting shoes that do not leave stains or odors.You can also use UV coating.To kill a fungal infection, simply put them in your shoes overnight.
They can boil socks, bedding and personal items.When washing automatically, you can simply set the washing machine to antibacterial mode.It assumes a temperature of 90 degrees, at which bacteria and fungal microorganisms cannot survive.
Local treatment has the following advantages:
- Cheap cost of drugs.
- Ease of use.
- Most products can be used during pregnancy as they do not penetrate the circulatory system.
- Indicated for children.
- Minimal number of contraindications and side effects.
Topical drugs soften the skin, quickly restore the previous appearance of the nail and relieve discomfort.
Healing varnishes
There are special varnishes for fungus.They are often prescribed by doctors and are popular with patients.Among the advantages of using them are:
- Transparent color and therefore the drug will not be visible.
- Almost immediately after the application, you can wear a sock, and therefore such a treatment will not distract a person from daily activities.
- The varnish creates a dense film on the surface of the plaque, which protects against the appearance of bacterial complications.
- Quick effect.
- Effective restoration of the normal appearance of the plaque.
- Unlike most other medications, you only need to apply the product a few times a week.Therefore, the treatment will be as boring as possible in terms of time.
- Can be used as prophylactic agents after a person has cleared the disease.
- After just a few uses you can see the result.
However, when using varnish, there is a very significant drawback - the significant cost of funds.Considering the duration of the treatment, this is a significant amount.
Systemic treatment
This type of treatment involves the use of tablets exclusively.Local funds are not used.Systemic treatment is prescribed in the following cases:
- Advanced stage of the disease.
- The lesion involved more than 2 fingers.
- The use of topical drugs had no tangible results.
- The infectious process affected the vegetative area of the plaque.
- The fungus began to spread on the skin.
The basis of such treatment are animotics.They can be used only if prescribed by a doctor, since drugs have not only advantages in the form of a strong effect, but also disadvantages.The disadvantages include many contraindications, as well as possible side effects.
The course of treatment takes a long time.Treatment can be considered complete when a completely healthy nail has grown back.If the fungus 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 schemes:
- Classical.You must take the pills every day throughout the course.
- Small.Medication ends before a healthy nail develops.
- Intermittent.You have to take a lot of classes.Between them follow intervals, the duration of which is the time of the lesson.
- Palmotherapy.In this case, taking the pills will also be combined with a break from them.However, the rest time will exceed the duration of the lesson.
The choice of the optimal treatment regimen is carried out by a dermatologist or a doctor specializing in fungal infections.
Why has palliative care become so popular?
More and more often, doctors prescribe palliotherapy.Its popularity is due to the following advantages:
- Minimal side effects.
- Minimal harm to the patient.
- Ability to take increased doses of medication for a short period of time.
- Possibility of safe use in case of weakened immunity, which is typical for mycosis.
Pulse therapy may consist of taking tablets for a week at three-week intervals.You have to take many similar courses.Another possible treatment regimen for toenail fungus is to take the medication once a week.
Complex treatment
This is the most popular and effective method of treatment.It combines the advantages of systemic and local treatment.Contamination is destroyed both from the inside and from the outside.It is worth noting that the fungus penetrates the blood.It also grows on the surface of the nail.Comprehensive treatment of toenail fungus will help to completely eliminate it.The total impact may include:
- The use of tablets (they can be used using the method of pulse therapy).
- Use of topical treatments.These can be varnishes, solutions, creams.
Sometimes tablets and topical medications are different forms of the same medication.In other cases, different drugs are prescribed, but they complement each other effectively.
Complex treatment can also include several procedures.For example, this:
- Laser treatment.It is an effective substitute for topical treatments.For full treatment, you need to complete a course of 6-10 sessions.
- Material cleaning.Includes therapeutic pedicure.This process will not cure the fungus, but it will eliminate the damage caused by the fungus.
Traditional recipes may exist as part of complex therapy.For example, these could be warm sea salt baths.
Precautionary measures
Prevention is important not only for people who are not infected with the fungus and do not want to allow this to happen.It is important for people who have recently recovered from ringworm because they are at risk of recurrence.Preventive measures can be the following:
- No wearing someone else's slippers.
- Fight against sweaty feet.
- Periodic treatment of the nails with preventive agents.
- Disinfection of floors at home.
- Compliance with personal hygiene measures.
- Take care of the feet and hands, preventing the appearance of cracks in them.
Let's summarize.Fungal infection is a common disease and therefore many methods of treating it have been invented.They involve taking different drugs and different ways of using them.Complex treatment 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, topical treatments are used.