Healthy and 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 them and unconsciously evaluates their condition. That is why it is recommended to use nail polish against nail fungus as a preventive and therapeutic agent.
The principle of action of antifungal varnishes
The treatment lasts for many days after application to the nail.
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 observed after the use of 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, thus 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 ingredient 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 operation of each of them is identical. Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to eliminate onychomycosis and prevent relapse of the disease. To prevent fungal infections, these agents are also used very effectively.
Nail fungus varnish can be alcohol or oil based. Regardless of their consistency, they are equally effective in inhibiting the spread of fungal infections. The main thing is to know the type of pathogen in advance in order to correctly select 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 to achieve the most effective effect even in the deepest layers of the nail plate. The active components of the varnish act most effectively at the initial stage of the 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, making their further reproduction impossible.
When caring for nails affected by fungus, it is necessary to use strictly individual tools, which must be disinfected after each use. Otherwise, you may cause reinfection.
When treating nail fungus, it must 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. Please note that most often the fungus is diagnosed on the feet. This is because by wearing dirty, poor quality or uncomfortable shoes, the feet are often exposed to a humid and warm environment, which in itself encourages the development of fungus.
Some of the most important disadvantages of antifungal varnish are its high price and the lengthy preparation of the feet before using the product. Inexpensive drugs of this type may indicate a fake, so it is not advisable to buy them.
During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicure, varnish, use of lotions and creams). These measures can cause greater growth of the fungus and aggravation of the inflammatory process.
The positive aspects include the effectiveness of the product at the initial stage of development of fungal diseases and the ease of application. An important advantage of this form of antifungal drug is not only the 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 away.
We can also add a whole list of positive aspects of its use:
- quickly fixes on the nail;
- local effect without additional drugs;
- minimal toxicity;
- is on free sale;
- Easy to use;
- has a preventive effect;
- act with moderation.
How to correctly apply medicated varnishes.
Before using any nail polish for toenail fungus, it is necessary to prepare the infected surface. To do this, you need to wash your feet, preferably with 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, it is necessary to disinfect the surface of the nails and, using a special file that comes with the varnish, clean the affected surface of the nail and shorten its length. Only after this can you apply varnish.
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 soap and soda solution.
Once the preparation of the infected nail is complete, an antifungal agent is applied. Experts recommend carrying out procedures at least once every 7 days. Before reapplying the varnish, the previous treatment layer must be removed with a common 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 their doctor which anti-fungal varnish is considered most effective. It is impossible to recommend the best varnish for toenail fungus due to the individual characteristics of each person's organism, 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 still need to be selected individually.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine.
This is one of the most economical drugs in the line of antifungal varnishes. Its price depends on the place of purchase. The therapeutic effect of this varnish 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 you may feel a slight burning sensation in the areas to be treated.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride.
The same colorless varnish, which is applied in a thin layer after removing the upper keratinized layer of the nail plate. The set with varnish includes disposable nail files (12 pieces), applicators, cleaning sticks and spatulas.
When used correctly, the medication works by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis. As a result of such a failure, processes are launched that have a destructive effect on the vital activity of fungal cells.
The varnish composition quickly penetrates the treated nail surface and after 24 hours reaches the maximum therapeutic effect. The active ingredient of the drug acts for 10 days after the first use of the varnish. The varnish works best in the early stages of the disease. After applying the medicine, with a spatula, you should wait until the varnish is completely absorbed. A few minutes are enough for this. The spatula is then cleaned with an alcohol wipe (q-tip) and folded into place.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride - 64. 0 mg
This varnish against toenail fungus works well even in advanced cases of the disease. But it won't be able to please you with its prices. To undergo varnish treatment, you will have to spend a lot of money. The active ingredient amorolfine is effective in the process of destroying yeasts and molds. If you strictly follow the treatment regimen, the unpleasant symptoms will quickly disappear and the fungus will be completely destroyed.
This medication is often recommended as the most effective varnish against nail fungus. At the same time, it smells pleasant and relieves inflammation, which reduces itching and peeling. The course of treatment will be long and in advanced cases can last up to 4-6 months or even up to a year.
The varnish tube comes with all the necessary accessories: disinfectant-soaked wipes, applicators and single-use nail files. The affected area of the nail is removed with a file, the surface is degreased with a napkin before applying the drug, and applicators are used to carefully distribute the product over the nail plate.
Varnish with the active ingredientciclopirox.
Before applying medicated varnish, nails must be pre-treated.
The main active ingredientciclopirox has a wide spectrum of action and destroys the cells of various types of pathogenic fungi. It can be used to treat mold, yeast, dermatomycetes and other types of fungi, parasitic bacteria.
The composition quickly penetrates into the deepest layers of the nail plate and nail bed and begins to actively destroy the fungus a day after the first application.
The application pattern of this varnish is somewhat different from other varnishes. The first month the medication 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 the varnish, the affected surface of the nail should be thoroughly cleaned and its length trimmed to a maximum 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 best to buy nail polish for nail fungus in a pharmacy. Do not trust dubious stalls and stores, so as not to buy a fake, buy all medicines only in trusted places.
Side effects and contraindications.
Even the best varnish for toenail and fingernail fungus has contraindications for use and adverse reactions, so it is worth studying this paragraph of the article carefully. Antifungal varnish is a 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 antifungal varnish;
Adverse reactions include:
- unpleasant burning and redness at the application site (it disappears on its own in a short period of time);
- development of contact dermatitis. This reaction can occur due to inaccurate distribution of the aggressive drug and its interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and periungual ridges.
Opinions about varnishes
After reading several reviews of people who used varnishes to treat fungus, I can advise you which varnish for nail fungus is better and which one did not help you at all or caused you additional inconvenience. You should not blindly believe all the reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the treatment process.