The problem of treating toenail fungus is quite relevant. According to statistics, 50% of all diseases occur due to parasitic fungi. Settling on the nail plate, they are able to multiply at a rapid speed, and then damage not only the nails, but also the skin of the feet. If this disease is not cured in time, it will be very difficult to return the former appearance of the skin and nails.
There are two types of fungi. The first is “onychomycosis”. It affects only the nail plate . The second is “mycosis”. The bacterium damages the skin around the nail. They can occur both together and separately.
You can become infected with fungi under the influence of three factors : heat, humidity and damage (even with a slight scratch).
In 80% of cases, infection occurs if you visit the following places:
I note that most often those who do not take proper care of their feet suffer from fungus:
In addition, if there are circulatory problems, reduced immunity, obesity, diabetes, HIV, then a person can easily become infected with this unpleasant disease.
After each trip to the pool, public bath, gym and other places, you should carefully examine your feet and nails. It turns out that signs and symptoms can be detected almost immediately after infection .
First of all, the nail plates change:
If you notice any symptoms, go to the doctor or pharmacy for products that will help get rid of bacteria.
I did not have the opportunity to visit a doctor, so I decided to read reviews on the Internet from those who used the drugs. And only then I went to buy pharmaceutical medicines. I will list the most effective and best means .
Tablets against nail fungus
If you have immunity problems, diabetes, or are over 50 years old, then you can purchase pills for this disease.
It is not advisable for other people to take the tablets, since their effectiveness is noticeably lower compared to creams and ointments, and they can cause the following side effects:
Any tablets against fungi are especially contraindicated for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, as well as those who have problems with the liver and kidneys.
If you are not one of them, then you can safely take the following drugs: Lamisil, Fluconazole, Terbinafine, Itraconazole, Griseofulvin, Ketoconazole .
Please note that all tablets have a long-term effect , so at least 6-8 weeks must pass before the results appear. During this period you will need to take the drug.
Effective topical antifungal drugs
There are other medications that can get rid of fungus on your feet - these are topical medications. These include creams, ointments, sprays, varnishes, solutions, serums. The result of their action will be noticeable faster than from tablets .
The following advantages of such funds are noted:
There are also noticeable disadvantages of use:
The best remedy is varnish . It disinfects not only the nail, but also penetrates its tissue, reaching deeper into the internal cells.
Good varnishes that eliminate fungus are : Loceryl, Batrafen,
Effective ointments and creams : Lamisil, Exoderil, Candide, Terbinafine, Terbizil, Clotrimazole, Zalain, Batrafen, Nizoral, Mycospor, Mycozoral, Exifin.
Effective sprays : Lamisil, Lamitel, Terbix.
Remedies for removing affected nails
To remove the affected part of the nail, it is not necessary to contact a surgeon. Excellent drugs are Nogtivit and Nogtimycin . They painlessly remove the diseased layer, disinfect the skin and eliminate the fungus.
If the drug does not work immediately, it can be used again.
Keratolytic patch has the same effect . It needs to be glued to the painful part of the nail for 3 days. A special result appears after repeated use .
The best and most effective folk methods are:
The action of folk remedies is effective. You will notice the result after 2-3 weeks.
A new modern method of treatment is laser exposure . Laser treatment is painless. The fungus is eliminated in 3-4 irradiations, and you can observe the effect even after the 1st session.
The treatment session lasts 15-20 minutes. There is no doubt that this procedure is effective .
To avoid illness, follow simple rules:
I managed to cure toenail fungus in 2 weeks. I did not take pills, but used creams to eliminate bacteria and took daily soda baths. I noticed redness immediately after visiting the pool and did not hesitate - I began to treat it .
If you have advanced the disease, then consult a specialist, purchase prescribed medications and pharmaceuticals. To prevent the fungus from appearing again, follow the above tips.
For your convenience, we surfed the Internet and collected the most common advice from people on how to cure nail fungus. We hope that some of these tips will be useful to you.
“The cause of the nail fungus was foot fungus, which was treated with varying success (under the supervision of a dermatologist) and periodically “disturbed” my feet. About 3 years ago, the nails on my big toes first turned yellow, then simply “moved away” from the skin. The new nail that grew immediately grew yellow, crooked, and thickened. The doctor prescribed a combined treatment regimen, which included, in addition to local treatment, internal treatment - taking antifungal drugs for a long period. I didn’t want to transplant my kidneys and liver and began to look for an alternative. For 2 years, I tried on myself both medications and traditional methods of treatment. The nail fungus did not respond to treatment, but I cured the foot fungus completely (pah-pah-pah) and it no longer bothers me. A year ago I purchased a Mikospor set. The price is $20, but it is a very effective treatment for nail fungus! I treated the nail like this: first I filed off the entire surface of the nail as much as possible with a nail file. Then, according to the instructions, I applied the cream (the instructions contain a detailed description with pictures), and fixed it with adhesives that come with the kit. IMPORTANT: The patch does not stick well, it comes off, but you only need to use it, so I additionally fixed the patch from the kit with a purchased fabric-based patch in a skein (ask the pharmacy which patch is best to stick on). I changed the patch in the morning and evening. When I removed the patch, I scraped off the nail with a special brush from the set, and my own manicure tongs, files - in short, everything that would help remove the ENTIRE nail, without leaving the slightest piece. If some piece remains, the treatment will not be successful, unfortunately. If you damage the skin and bleed while scraping your nail, treat it with hydrogen peroxide. It took me 2 weeks to remove the nail (I repeat, in the morning I scrape the nail, apply cream, fix it with a band-aid, in the evening I remove the band-aid, scrape off the nail, apply cream, fix it with a band-aid, etc.) Sometimes when I removed the band-aid, my legs floated in the saturated saline solution, and then removed the nail. After the nail was gone, I still applied the cream for another week and fixed it with a band-aid, I just didn’t scrape anything off. Then, according to the instructions, apply regular mycospor cream twice a day (if you have any left over from the kit, apply it), but I applied clotrimazole, since it was clotrimazole that cured my foot fungus. This went on for 3 months (the first month - 2 times a day, the second - 1 time a day, the third, to tell the truth, whatever happens). And now the nail began to grow evenly and healthy. DO NOT STOP TREATMENT when you see that the nail is growing healthy - I still advise you to apply the cream. I have had a healthy nail for a year now, there is no relapse, I do not use antifungal agents. Although, the cured nail began to grow in, but I coped with it! Finally, I will say that a prerequisite for defeating nail fungus is systematicity, be patient. The set, as she claimed, did not help my friend with Mycospor nail fungus, and then it turned out that she did not clean the entire nail off the nail fold. I insisted on repeated treatment, supporting her with my positive example - and now, she is growing a healthy nail!! I wish you the same victory over nail fungus!! If you have any questions, please contact me! »
“Very simple, with antifungal drugs, unless of course you started it. Okay, let's get some treatment. Go to the pharmacy and buy: 1. Clotrimazole ointment and apply to the damaged surface 3 times a day. 2. Antifungal varnishes: 5% varnish LOCERIL (morolfine) or 8% BATRAFEN (cyclopiroxolamine). Cover the nails with LOCERIL 1-2 times a week 3. Lamisil 250g - once a day. (1 TB) Get well soon. BRAIN 6.9% »
“I was worried about the nail on my big toe, which was completely infected with fungus. Having heard from neighbors about the great possibilities of iodinol, I decided to test its effect on a sore nail. This is how I cured my diseased nail without surgery. I generously soaked a piece of cotton wool in iodinol, applied it to the nail and secured it securely with an adhesive plaster. The cotton wool should be slightly larger than the nail. I walked like this for several days. After removing the patch and cotton wool, I discovered that the nail had acquired a normal thickness, and the spores under the nail had dissolved. Then I moistened the cotton wool in the same way with lamp oil (I just had it on hand, but you can use ordinary sunflower or olive oil) and also secured it securely. After walking like this for 3-4 days, I took off the bandage, and when I lifted the nail over the edge, it came off painlessly.”
“The fastest and most effective recipe for nail fungus: Rumicosis 200 mg orally twice a day for a week, then a break of three weeks (21 days) and again taking the drug followed by a break. The weekly dose should be repeated 3-4 times, that is, the treatment will take 3-4 months. In parallel, Exoderil solution and ointment are used externally. First, apply the Exoderil solution in drops onto the filed surface of the nail, and after absorption, lubricate it with Exoderil ointment. This sequence will ensure a deeper and longer-lasting effect of the drug. This treatment regimen is more economical in time and cost, provided that these types of fungus are sensitive to the drug. The key to successful treatment is strict adherence to the dosage and period of taking the drug, since certain concentrations and duration of action of the drug are required to suppress the fungus. Side effects are rare, but if they appear, you need to inform your doctor so that he can adjust further treatment. »
“The itching was unbearable. I rubbed my fingers until they blistered. No gels or ointments helped. Once I bought a three-liter jar of kombucha and began drinking it like lemonade. I dressed salads with it and started diluting it. The mushroom requires care. I washed it with my hands in a large cup. Then he put it again in a three-liter jar and filled it with a light, sweet tea solution. And I noticed that my fingers stopped itching. I decided to wash my feet with a solution of kombucha diluted with water by eye. And now there is no itching for six months. At the beginning of treatment there was a period when my fingers itched again. I folded a cloth soaked in kombucha infusion, placed it between my fingers, and the itching went away. I had another problem - an advanced fungus on my fingernail, which had gotten under the root of the nail. The finger began to turn red. I decided to treat him with kombucha. I wrapped the nail in kombucha film, put gauze on top (or a chintz cloth) and fixed it. The procedure was carried out at night. By morning, the kombucha film had turned black. I performed 3 procedures in total. The nail now grows healthy. »
“I had nail fungus since I was 17 years old; the nail plates on my toes began to deteriorate. I cured it with exifin within a year. I took a pill a day. this infection is not on the nails but inside the body - I found out from my own experience"
“Lamisil and other proprietary crap are necessary for wasting a lot of money and ineffective treatment for many months. Listen to fools more. The cream will not help much, since most likely your family members also need to be treated. The fungus is transmitted through slippers that just about everyone puts on here. Therefore, a relapse is possible. Fungus on the feet can be treated in the simplest and cheapest way - by applying iodine tincture (pharmaceutical) for 2 weeks. This “recipe” was given by a 70-year-old doctor from the dermatovenerological department of a military sanatorium. I think she has enough experience in this matter. ))) If it’s broken, there are traditional methods. Write. »
“It’s very difficult to treat. My husband treated me with Lamisil and cheaper drugs, but it didn’t help. Complete removal of the nail helps (this is how my nephew was treated). Only it is very painful (until the new nail grows). »
“Actually, you need to contact a mycologist. I had fungus on my big toe nails. I treated with Orungal. This is a killer medicine, but expensive. If money is short, then there is a longer and more unpleasant treatment. This requires chemical removal of the nail and constant application of antifungal agents. A special kit for this purpose is sold. It's called Mycosporum. In short, the second option is too boring. »
“You definitely need to consult a dermatologist-mycologist to have a scraping done to determine the type of fungus, from here treatment will be prescribed. It’s better to set up in advance for a long time and not cheaply. You will also have to treat your own shoes and take care of the health of your loved ones (you can easily get infected). Good luck! »
“Be sure to drink Orungal for a long time, plus Batrafen varnish. under regular scraping supervision. »
“They can use antifungal ointment every day and iodine diluted with water every other day. A friend cured me in 2 weeks. The source of the fungus on the nail may have an unpleasant cause. You should get tested »
“After an unsuccessful struggle, I turned to surgeons. They removed the nails (all of them! They pulled them out under general anesthesia) and I took ORUNGAL for three months. These are tablets plus ointment. In addition, she underwent comprehensive treatment with vitamins and physiotherapy. Normal nails have been growing for about 10 years now)) We need a good specialist. And treatment is only under his supervision in a hospital"
“Now I’m finishing my treatment, although on my feet. Only to the doctor. I spent 3 years using all sorts of varnishes. self-medication is shorter. You need to determine what kind of fungus specifically and only then they will prescribe tablets (you must take them, because the fungus is in the blood) and look at the condition of the liver, the medicine is hitting it. And of course varnish. If you are in Moscow, I can advise you to contact CNIKVI. »
“The fungus is located on the nail bed, so removing the nail plate is indispensable. The nail can be removed using ointments, but this is very time-consuming and expensive, or requires a surgeon. Then you should start treatment with a dermatologist (tablets, ointments)"
“In the evening, wet a cotton swab with apple cider vinegar and apply it to the sore nail. Tie the top with cellophane and bandage it. In the morning the nail will soften, cut off everything that is cut off and apply iodine. Repeat the procedure in the evening. Do it every day until a whole beautiful nail grows. This method completely cures fungus of any age, you just need to not be lazy and perform the procedure every day. All accessories (Scissors and file) must be washed and kept separately. »
“Nail fungus can only be cured by taking oral antifungal medications. The medicine, duration and number of courses will be prescribed by a dermatologist. And don't forget to throw out all your old shoes and socks. »
“The longer the fungus lives on your nails, the more difficult it is to treat and the worse it is for the whole body. Prolonged onychomycosis can provoke an allergic reaction, weaken the immune system and lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases. Therefore, the most correct thing to do at the first suspicion is to consult a mycologist or dermatologist. The doctor will not only conduct an examination, evaluate the thickness and structure of the nail, but also take tissue scrapings for analysis. Only in this way will he be able to determine the presence of fungus, its type and prescribe adequate treatment. Nowadays, highly effective drugs of general and local action are available for treatment. In the initial forms of the disease, when the area of nail damage is insignificant, you can limit yourself to local treatment - applying a broad-spectrum antifungal drug (antimycotic) to the nail bed 2 times a day in the form of an ointment, cream or solution. Before applying the medicine, special preparation of the nails is carried out. First - a soap and soda bath: the basin is half filled with hot water (40-50 degrees C), in which 1 tbsp is dissolved. l. soda and 50 g of laundry soap. Those feet or fingers in need of treatment are immersed in the solution for 10-15 minutes. After this, the softened horny layers on the nails are treated with nail clippers and filed with a file. The duration of treatment is until healthy, unaltered nails grow back. Do not use the same manicure accessories to treat diseased and healthy nails. Local medications include KANIZON, EKZODERIL. NIZORAL. And also MICOSPOR sold in a set with a waterproof patch. The drug is applied to the affected nails using a dispenser and left for a day under a waterproof patch. A day after the soap and soda bath, remove the affected areas of the nail with a file. The procedure is repeated until the affected areas of the plate are completely removed, and then the drug is rubbed into the nail bed. The duration of treatment, as in the case of other drugs, is until healthy nails grow back. In the initial forms of infection, special antifungal varnishes can be used for local treatment: 5% LOCERIL varnish or 8% BATRAFEN. Apply LOCERIL to nails 1-2 times a week. Treatment takes 6-8 months for fingernails and about a year for toenails. BATRAFEN is used every other day for the first month, 2 times a week for the second month, 3 months and then once a week until healthy nails grow back. Manicure polish can also be applied over antifungal polish. If local treatment no longer helps or the nail plates are completely affected by the fungus, general antimycotics are prescribed (they are also called systemic). Such drugs are taken orally. This is LAMISIL. ORUNGAL. DIFLUCAN and NIZORAL and their analogues. They can be used in combination with antifungal varnishes. However, it is very important to make sure that you have no contraindications to general antimycotics. For example, kidney and liver diseases. Systemic drugs are often contraindicated in children, and they have serious limitations in simultaneous use with certain other drugs. For example, LAMISIL cannot be combined with hormonal contraceptives. Pregnancy also means a ban on systemic antimycotics. Therefore, women of childbearing age taking them need to use contraception throughout the entire course of treatment. Whatever treatment the doctor prescribes, for some time you will turn into a disinfectant. The doctor will write a prescription, according to which the pharmacy will prepare the necessary solution for you. Before the start of the course, they will have to treat all existing shoes, all socks, gloves, etc. and then, once a month, until healthy nails grow back, they need to treat the clothes and shoes that had to be worn during the treatment. This is not difficult: the inner surface of the shoe is wiped with a cotton swab dipped in the solution; the same swab is placed in gloves, socks, stockings, etc. All this is hidden in a thick plastic bag overnight, then dried well and ventilated for 2-3 days. »
"Flucanazole. In tablets you need twenty. This is a percentage. there are 15 and 5. You need to take 20. one tablet a week. Mom suffered from this disease for 30 years. Now I can’t believe that I got rid of it. The nails have been healthy for five years now. »