Onychomycosis is an extremely unpleasant condition that can be easily contracted: just go to the pool, go to the beach, or put on someone else's flip-flops.But getting rid of this disease is not easy: fungal spores not only affect the nail plate, but also penetrate into the deepest layers of the skin and take root firmly there.
In advanced cases, the fungus enters a chronic stage and treatment is delayed for several years.Therefore, it is very important to promptly pay attention to the symptoms and start treatment with special medications, including a special varnish for onychomycosis.
Why are fungi dangerous?
Fungal infections enter the body through micro-tears that appear in the skin for various reasons.This can occur, for example, when a person walks barefoot on a beach or floor, puts on someone else's shoes, or gets a pedicure using tools other than one's own.If pathogenic microorganisms succeed in establishing a foothold, they gradually penetrate all layers of the skin, expanding their reach.
This infection thrives in warm and moist environments, making the toes an ideal place for the fungus to grow, especially if a person sweats excessively.In this case, self-medication is useless and will not bring success.The only way out: use ointments, creams, medicated nail polish.
The difficulty in treating this disease also lies in the fact that there are more than 500 types of fungi that are harmful to human health (out of a total of more than 70,000 types).Each type must be treated with medications specifically developed for it, otherwise even the best medications will be ineffective.If you notice suspicious symptoms, you need to see a dermatologist before starting treatment.
This fungus causes the following symptoms:
- Peeling, burning, itching, and redness between finger folds;
- Suspicious spots appear on the skin;
- Bubbles may form, which may burst over time, forming cracks and ulcers;
- The nail begins to change its structure: it bends, a structure in the form of waves appears on the nail plate, it itself becomes thicker or thinner, and begins to break;
- White or yellowish spots on your nails are not a sign of healthy nails.
If you pay attention to the symptoms in time, detect skin problems on the feet and deterioration of the nail condition, and seek help in time, you can get rid of the disease in two months.Treatment usually involves ointments, creams and tablets.Recently, a special preparation has appeared, namely medicated nail polish, the main purpose of which is to prevent and destroy fungi that affect the nail plate.
How does varnish fight fungus?
Antifungal nail polish works best in the first stages of disease development.The principle of operation is simple: after filing the top layer with a file and degreasing the plate with alcohol, the product is applied to the nails, and then, thanks to its liquid structure, the medicinal components contained in its composition easily penetrate into the plate layer and begin to destroy pathogens.
After the varnish dries, air stops penetrating into the fungal spores, which is essential for their development, and this also hinders their important activities.As a result, the fungus dies due to the loss of air and severe exposure to the medicinal ingredients contained in the varnish.
Antifungal nail polish dries in approximately three to four minutes.After completing the procedure, you must remember to carefully close the bottle and sterilize all tools used to treat the nails and the skin around them.
If the type of fungus is correctly identified and the correct treatment is applied, it will be possible to eliminate the pathogenic microorganism after a period of time.Another point of concern is that varnish alone is not enough for effective treatment, as fungal spores are also present in the skin around the nails.
For the treatment to be successful, the treatment must be comprehensive: in addition to varnish, matching creams and tablets must be used.For example, one well-known company produces not only antifungal medicinal varnishes, but also ointments that help the body cope with illnesses.
Before choosing a treatment, you'll want to study the instructions carefully and make sure it targets the type of fungus found in the body (in principle, this should be done by a doctor, but it doesn't hurt to be sure on your own).It is also worth paying attention to the quantity of therapeutic ingredients and their concentration.
If the disease is at the end of the second to the beginning of the third phase, the fungal spores are already quite strong and if weaker drugs are used, they will start to fight it, develop immunity and become more resistant.Therefore, when treating diseases, you must choose stronger prescriptions.
Brands and their impact
There are currently a wide variety of antifungal varnishes, and since each case is individual, opinions on their effectiveness vary and are often contradictory.Based on the reviews, they helped some people and not others.The second option is due to incorrect preparation of the nail plate or using a varnish that is not designed for the type of fungus affecting the nails.
Antifungal varnishes containing the active ingredient amorolfine are particularly popular.They all have a broad range of actions and are designed to destroy the main types of pathogenic microorganisms.The choice of which one is better depends largely on the type of fungus affecting the nails, so they can be used only after tests have determined the type of pathogen and the drug instructions indicate that medicated nail polish can deal with it.
French anti-nail fungus varnish is an expensive drug whose active substance is amorolfine, the principle of which is based on destroying the cell membrane of the fungus.Not only does it destroy cells that have already emerged, it also prevents spores from multiplying and spreading, taking over new territories.According to reviews, the duration of treatment with this drug varies from two months to two years, depending on the stage of the fungal infection.
Another product from our manufacturer is one containing formic acid, which not only works well against pathogens but can also be used as a preventive agent.The active substance of the drug is polyvinyl acetate; it contains Bacillus and is therefore biochemically active.
German varnishes containing the active ingredient ciclopiroxamine, which is ciclopirox, are considered effective.Opinions about this drug vary, ranging from extremely negative to positive, and many believe that varnish containing amorolfine is better.This may be because, unlike previous application methods, the manufacturer allows the varnish to be applied without filling the surface of the board.
This is not the best way to use it as the product penetrates more easily into treated nails.To make ciclopirox varnish more effective, it is best to file the nail plate.
How often you need to wear antifungal nail polish depends largely on the disease and the treatment prescribed by your doctor.Some products are recommended for once-daily use, others twice-weekly, with intervals between procedures being increased when the face shows clear signs of recovery.
Whichever drug is chosen for treatment, do not forget the importance of comprehensive treatment and the need to observe hygiene rules.When applying varnish, do not forget that fungus-affected nails must be treated with separate tools: it is not recommended to file healthy and diseased nails with the same file or to cut them with the same pair of scissors.
You also cannot give your manicure tools to others to use, or take tools from them to work on your nails.It is worth noting to strengthen immunity, take vitamin and mineral complexes and maintain proper nutrition.