Healthy, beautiful nails are an integral part of the image of a well-groomed person.During a greeting, the interlocutor pays attention to the hands when shaking and unconsciously evaluates their condition.That is why it is recommended to use varnish against nail fungus as a preventative 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 different means and techniques that, in each specific case, will cure the fungus in the shortest possible time.At the initial stage of infection, a good reaction was noted after using a special antifungal varnish.The active components of the composition penetrate deep into the nail plate and can even kill fungal spores.
When applied, the nail plate softens, thereby improving the penetration of the treatment.After drying, the concentration of the antifungal drug in the affected tissues increases by 20% and persists for seven days.The maximum concentration of the active substance is achieved on the seventh day of using the varnish on the hands and on the fourteenth day on the feet.
Manufacturers of antimycotic varnishes produce their products under different names, but the principle of operation of each of them is identical.Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to get rid of onychomycosis and prevent relapse of the disease.To prevent fungal infections, such agents are also used very effectively.
Nail fungus varnish can have either an alcohol or an oil base.Regardless of consistency, they are equally effective in inhibiting the spread of fungal infection.The main thing is to find out the type of pathogen in advance in order to correctly select the active component and its concentration.Only in this case will the use of varnish give the expected result.
The liquid consistency allows the active components of the varnish to penetrate into every microcrack of the surface being treated for maximum effective impact even on the deepest layers of the nail plate.The active components of the varnish work most effectively at the initial stage of development of a fungal infection.They destroy not only fungal cells, but also their spores.When dry, the composition covers the nail with an imperceptible film, which blocks the possibility of oxygen penetrating the remaining spores, which makes it impossible for them to reproduce further.
When caring for nails affected by fungus, it is necessary to use strictly individual tools, which must be disinfected after each use.Otherwise, you can provoke re-infection.
When treating nail fungus, it should be taken into account 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, because this leads to a decrease in the antifungal effect and a delay in the treatment process.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Let's consider all the positive and negative aspects of using nail polish against nail fungus.The treatment procedure itself requires preliminary preparation of the nails.Note that most often the fungus is 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 damp and warm environment, which in itself is favorable for the development of fungus.
Some of the most important disadvantages of anti-fungal varnish are its high price and the lengthy preparation of feet before using the product.Inexpensive drugs of this type may indicate a counterfeit, so you should not purchase them.
During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicure, varnish, use of lotions and creams).These measures can provoke increased growth of the fungus and aggravation of the inflammatory process.
Positive aspects include the effectiveness of the product at the initial stage of development of fungal diseases and ease of application.An important advantage of this form of antimycotic drug is not only ease of application, but also the formation of a durable film that “fixes” the active substance in the affected area and prevents it from being washed off.
We can also add a whole list of positive aspects of use:
- quickly fixes on the nail;
- local effect without additional medications;
- minimal toxicity;
- is on free sale;
- easy to use;
- has a preventive effect;
- acts sparingly.
How to properly apply medicinal varnishes
Before using any nail polish for toenail fungus, you need to prepare the infected surface.To do this, you need to wash your feet, preferably using laundry soap, and dry the skin with a natural cloth.If necessary, you can steam your nails in water with the addition of celandine or propolis tincture (for additional disinfection).
Next, you need to disinfect the surface of the nails and, using a special file that comes with the varnish, clean off the affected surface of the nail and shorten its length.Only after this 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 soap and soda solution.
Once the preparation of the infected nail is complete, an antifungal agent is applied.Experts recommend performing procedures at least once every 7 days.Before reapplying the varnish, the previous treatment layer must be removed using a regular solvent.Processing is carried out strictly according to the instructions that come with the kit, because each drug has its own nuances when used.
Which nail polish is best for nail fungus - a review of effective remedies
Very often, patients ask the doctor which varnish against fungus is considered the most effective.It is impossible to recommend the best varnish 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 show 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 most inexpensive drugs in the line of anti-fungal varnishes.The therapeutic effect of varnishes appears only at the initial stage of fungal development, when the nail has not lost its normal structure and the nail plate is not affected by more than a third.Otherwise, its use will be useless.During application, a slight burning sensation may be felt in the treatment areas.
Based on ciclopirox
The main active ingredient ciclopirox has a wide spectrum of action and destroys cells of various types of fungal pathogens.It can be used to treat mold, yeast-like, dermatomycete 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 pattern is slightly different from other varnishes.The first month the drug is applied every two days.In the second month of treatment - twice a week.For the third month of treatment, one treatment per week is sufficient.
Before applying varnish, you must thoroughly clean the affected surface of the nail and trim 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 for nail fungus at a pharmacy.Do not trust dubious stalls and shops, so as not to buy a fake, buy all medications only in trusted places.
Side effects and contraindications
Even the best varnish for nail fungus on the toes and hands has contraindications for use and adverse reactions, so you should carefully study this paragraph of the article.Antifungal varnish is a medical drug, therefore, like all drugs, it has a number of contraindications and possible adverse reactions.
Contraindications include:
- preschool age;
- pregnancy and lactation process;
- individual intolerance to products that are part of the anti-fungal varnish;
Adverse reactions include:
- unpleasant burning and redness at the site of application (goes away on its own within a short period of time);
- development of contact dermatitis.Such a reaction can occur due to inaccurate distribution of the aggressive drug and its interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and periungual ridges.
Reviews
After reading several reviews of people who used varnishes on themselves to treat fungus and can advise which varnish for nail fungus is better, and which did not help them at all or caused additional inconvenience.You shouldn’t blindly believe all the reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the treatment process.
- Woman, 32 years old: “My husband is involved in professional sports and has been suffering from toenail fungus for a long time and was treated with antifungal drugs, but was not completely cured. And recently I noticed that the large nails on my feet became cloudy and began to crumble a lot when cut. 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 began to work very quickly. Within a month of treatment, I noticed that a new healthy, shiny nail was growing, which couldn’t help but rejoice!”
- Woman, 28 years old: “I often go to the pool and after I injured my big toe, I noticed that it had acquired an unnatural color. After going to the dermatologist, it turned out that in addition to the injury, I became 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 get by with local treatment. The specialist advised me to buy varnish for nail fungus. The price of the drug turned out to be quite high, but health is still more important, so I had to fork out the money. I bought the varnish and the resultsIt didn’t take long for me to wait. The affected nail has grown back and is renewed. Now all my nails are shiny and healthy. Now I think that when I go to the pool, I will still apply nail polish as a preventive measure to protect my nails from possible re-infection with fungus. The reviews from people who have used nail polish to treat a fungal infection are only positive!”