Healthy, beautiful nails are an integral part of the image of a well-groomed person.During a greeting, the interlocutor pays attention to shaking hands and unconsciously assesses their condition.That is why it is recommended to use varnish against nail fungus as a preventive and therapeutic agent.
The principle of action of antifungal varnishes
Depending on the severity of the disease and the location of the fungal infection, doctors recommend various means and techniques, which in each specific case will cure the fungus in the shortest possible time.In the initial stage of infection, a good reaction is observed after using a special antifungal varnish.The active components of the composition penetrate deep into the nail plate and can even destroy fungal spores.
When applied, the nail plate softens, thus improving the penetration of the treatment.After drying, the concentration of the antifungal drug in the affected tissues increases by 20% and lasts for seven days.The maximum concentration of the active substance is reached on the seventh day of using the varnish on the hands and on the fourteenth day on the feet.
Manufacturers of antifungal varnishes produce their products under different names, but the principle of action of each of them is identical.Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to get rid of onychomycosis and prevent recurrence of the disease.To prevent fungal infections, such means are also used very effectively.
Nail fungus polish can be alcohol or oil based.Regardless of the consistency, they are equally effective in inhibiting the spread of a fungal infection.The main thing is to understand the type of pathogen in advance in order to correctly choose the active component and its concentration.Only in this case, the use of varnish will give the expected result.
The liquid consistency allows the active components of the varnish to penetrate into every microcrack of the treated surface for maximum effective impact even on the deepest layers of the nail plate.The active components of the varnish work most effectively in the initial stage of the development of a fungal infection.They destroy not only fungal cells, but also their spores.When it dries, the composition covers the nail with an imperceptible film that blocks the possibility of oxygen penetrating the remaining spores, making it impossible for them to reproduce further.
When caring for nails affected by fungus, it is necessary to use strictly individual tools that must be disinfected after each use.Otherwise, you can provoke a re-infection.
When treating nail fungus, it should be borne in mind that toenails can accumulate several times more medicinal substances than fingernails.It is also undesirable to use antifungal varnishes from different companies at the same time, as this leads to a decrease in the antifungal effect and a delay in the treatment process.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's look at all the positives and negatives of using nail polish against nail fungus.The treatment procedure itself requires preliminary preparation of the nails.Keep in mind that the fungus is most often diagnosed on the feet.This is due to the fact that when wearing dirty, poor-quality or uncomfortable shoes, the feet are often exposed to a moist and warm environment, which in itself is favorable for the development of fungi.
Some of the most important disadvantages of the anti-fungal varnish are its high price and the long preparation of the feet before using the product.Cheap drugs of this type may indicate a fake, so you should not buy them.
During the treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicure, varnishing, use of lotions and creams).These measures can provoke increased growth of fungi and worsening of the inflammatory process.
Positive aspects include the effectiveness of the product in the initial stage of development of fungal diseases and the ease of application.An important advantage of this form of antimycotic drug is not only the ease of application, but also the formation of a permanent film that "fixes" the active substance in the affected area and prevents it from being washed away.
We can also add a whole list of positive aspects of use:
- quickly fixed on the nail;
- local effect without additional drugs;
- minimal toxicity;
- is freely available;
- easy to use;
- has a preventive effect;
- act sparingly.
How to properly apply medical varnishes
Before using nail polish for nail fungus, you need to prepare the infected surface.To do this, you should wash your feet, preferably with laundry soap, and dry the skin with a natural towel.If necessary, you can steam your nails in water with the addition of tincture of celandine or propolis (for additional disinfection).
After that, you need to disinfect the surface of the nails and with the help of a special file that comes with the varnish, clean the affected surface of the nail and shorten its length.Only then can varnish be applied.
For those who are afraid to clean the nail plate themselves or do not want to remove it, there is an easier way to prepare the nail - a hygienic bath with a solution of soap and soda.
Once the preparation of the infected nail is complete, an antifungal agent is applied.Experts recommend that the procedures be performed at least once every 7 days.Before re-applying the varnish, the previously treated layer must be removed with a common solvent.Processing is carried out strictly in accordance with the instructions attached to the kit, since each drug has its own nuances when used.
Which varnish is best for nail fungus - a review of effective means
Very often, patients ask the doctor which anti-fungal varnish is considered the most effective.It is impossible to recommend the best polish for toenail fungus due to the individual characteristics of each person's body, the degree of infection and the type of fungus that causes it.Therefore, the same drug in different cases can manifest itself in completely different ways.Below we present a list of the most effective drugs against nail fungus, but they should still be selected individually.
Based on amorolfine
These are one of the cheapest drugs in the line of antifungal varnishes.The therapeutic effect of varnishes is manifested only in the initial stage of the development of the fungus, when the nail has not lost its normal structure and the nail plate is not affected by more than one third.Otherwise, its use will be useless.During application, a slight burning sensation may be felt in the treated areas.
Ciclopirox based
The main active ingredient ciclopirox has a wide spectrum of action and destroys the cells of various types of fungal pathogens.It can be used to treat molds, yeasts, dermatomycetes and other types of fungi, parasitic bacteria.
The composition quickly penetrates into the deepest layers of the nail plate and nail bed and actively begins to destroy the fungus within a day after the first application.
The application scheme is slightly different from other varnishes.During the first month, the drug is administered every two days.In the second month of treatment - twice a week.For the third month of treatment, one procedure per week is sufficient.
Before applying varnish, you need to clean the affected nail surface well and cut its length as much as possible with scissors.During the next application, the previous layer of varnish is removed by scraping.The course of treatment should not exceed six months.It is better to buy nail polish from the fungus at the pharmacy.Do not trust dubious stalls and shops, so as not to buy a fake, buy all medicines only in reliable places.
Side effects and contraindications
Even the best toenail fungus varnish has contraindications for use and side effects, so you should carefully study this paragraph of the article.Antifungal varnish is a medical drug, therefore, like all drugs, there are a number of contraindications and possible side effects.
Contraindications include:
- preschool age;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding process;
- individual intolerance to products that are part of the antifungal varnish;
Side effects include:
- unpleasant burning and redness at the site of application (disappears by itself in a short period of time);
- development of contact dermatitis.Such a reaction can occur due to incorrect distribution of the aggressive drug and its interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and peri-nail edges.
Reviews
After reading a few reviews of people who have used nail fungus nail polishes and can advise which nail fungus nail polish is better and which one didn't help them at all or caused additional discomfort.You should not blindly trust all reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the treatment process.
- Woman, 32 years old: "My husband is engaged in professional sports and has suffered from toenail fungus for a long time and was treated with antifungal drugs, but he was not completely cured. And recently I noticed that my large toenails became cloudy and began to crumble a lot when cutting. I immediately turned to a dermatologist and heard a disappointing diagnosis - fungus. The doctor advised me to try an inexpensive varnish for nail fungus (compared to others),which started working very quickly, I noticed that a new healthy, shiny nail was growing, which couldn't help but make me happy!”
- Woman, 28 years old: "I often go to the pool, and after injuring my big toe, I noticed that it had acquired an unnatural color. After I went to a dermatologist, it turned out that in addition to the injury, I got infected with a fungus in the pool. It's good that I identified the problem at an early stage, and the doctor said that I could cope with local treatment. The specialist advised me to buy nail polish. The price of the medicine turned out to be much more important, sothat I had to spend money on nail polish and the results did not take long. Reviews from people who have used nail polish to treat fungal infection are only positive!"