Healthy and beautiful nails are part of a well-groomed image. When greeting, the interlocutor pays attention to the hands when shaking hands and subconsciously assesses their situation. 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 varnish
The treatment lasts for several days after being applied to the nails.
Depending on the severity of the disease and the location of the fungal infection, doctors recommend different methods and techniques that, in each specific case, will cure the fungus in the shortest possible time. In the early stages of infection, a good response is observed after using a special antifungal varnish. The active components of the composition penetrate deep into the nail plate and can also kill fungal spores.
When used, the nail plate softens, thereby increasing the penetration of the treatment. After drying, the concentration of the antifungal drug in the affected tissue increased by 20% and continued 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.
Antimycotic varnish manufacturers produce their products under different names, but the principle of operation of each of them is the same. Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to eliminate onychomycosis and prevent recurrence of the disease. To prevent fungal infections, the agent is also used very effectively.
Nail fungus varnishes can have either an alcohol or an oil base. Regardless of the consistency, they are equally effective in preventing the spread of fungal infections. The main thing is to know the type of pathogen in advance in order to choose the active component and its concentration correctly. 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 the most effective effect even on the deepest layers of the nail plate. The active components of the varnish work most effectively in the early stages 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 invisible film, which prevents the possibility of oxygen penetrating the remaining spores, which makes it impossible for them to reproduce again.
When caring for nails affected by fungus, it is necessary to use strict individual tools, which must be disinfected after each use. Otherwise, you can trigger the infection again.
When treating nail fungus, it should be taken into account that toenails can accumulate several times more medicinal substances than nails. 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 consider all the positive and negative aspects of using nail polish against nail fungus. The treatment procedure itself requires preliminary nail preparation. Note that most often fungus is diagnosed on the feet. This is due to the fact that when wearing dirty, low-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 anti-fungal varnishes are their high price and the lengthy preparation of the feet before using the product. Cheap drugs of this type may indicate counterfeit, so you should not buy them.
During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicures, varnishes, use of lotions and creams). These steps can trigger an increase in fungal growth and the severity of the inflammatory process.
Positive aspects include the effectiveness of the product in the early stages of the development of fungal diseases and the ease of use. An important advantage of this form of antimycotic medicine is not only ease of use, 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 use:
- quickly fixes on nails;
- local effect without additional drugs;
- minimal toxicity;
- being sold for free;
- easy to use;
- have a preventive effect;
- act prudently.
How to use medical varnish correctly
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 nail surface and, using a special file that comes with the varnish, clean the affected nail surface and shorten its length. Only after this can the varnish be used.
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 nails - take a clean bath with a solution of soap and soda.
Once the preparation of the infected nail is complete, antimycotic agents are used. Experts recommend doing the procedure at least once every 7 days. Before re-applying the varnish, the previous treatment layer must be removed using a common solvent. Processing is carried out strictly according to the instructions included with the kit, because each drug has its own nuances when used.
Which nail polish is better for nail fungus - a review of effective drugs
Often, patients ask their doctor which varnish against fungus is considered the most effective. It is impossible to recommend the best varnish for toenail fungus because of the individual characteristics of each person's body, the level 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 chosen individually.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine
This is one of the cheapest drugs in the line of anti-fungal varnishes. The price depends on the place of purchase. The therapeutic effect of this varnish appears only in the early stages of the development of the fungus, when the nail does not lose its normal structure and the nail plate is not affected by more than one third. Otherwise, its use will be in vain. During the application, a slight burning sensation may be felt in the treatment area.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride
The same colorless varnish, which is applied in a thin layer after removing the top layer of keratin from the nail plate. The set with varnish includes a disposable nail file (12 pieces), an applicator, a cleaning brush and a spatula.
When used correctly, this drug works to inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol. As a result of such a failure, a process is launched that has a damaging effect on the vital activity of fungal cells.
The composition of the varnish quickly penetrates the treated nail plate, and after 24 hours reaches the maximum therapeutic effect. The active ingredient of the drug works for 10 days after the first use of the varnish. Varnish works best in the early stages of the disease. After applying the medicine, using a spatula, you must wait until the varnish is completely absorbed. A few minutes is enough for this. Next, the spatula is wiped with an alcohol wipe (swab) 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 this disease. But he will not be able to please you with his price. To undergo treatment with varnish, you have to spend a lot of money. The active ingredient amorolfine is effective in the process of destroying yeast and mold fungi. If you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen, the unpleasant symptoms will disappear quickly, and the fungus will be completely destroyed.
This drug is often recommended as the most effective varnish against nail fungus. At the same time, it smells pleasant, it removes inflammation, which leads to a reduction in 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: a wipe soaked in disinfectant, an applicator and a nail file for single use. The affected nail area is removed with a file, the surface is diluted with a napkin before applying the medicine, and the applicator is used to carefully distribute the product over the nail plate.
Varnish with the active ingredient ciclopirox
Before using medicated varnish, nails must be treated first
The main active ingredient ciclopirox has a broad spectrum of action and destroys cells of various types of fungal pathogens. 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 actively begins to destroy the fungus within a day after the first application.
The application pattern for this varnish is quite different from other varnishes. The first month the drug is used 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, you must clean the affected nail surface thoroughly and cut as much length 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 the pharmacy. Do not trust dubious stalls and shops, so as not to buy fake ones, buy all medicines only in trusted places.
Side effects and contraindications
Even the best varnish for nail fungus on toes and hands has contraindications for use and adverse reactions, so you should carefully study the paragraphs of this article. Antifungal varnish is a medical drug, therefore, like all drugs, it has some contraindications and possible adverse reactions.
Contraindications include:
- preschool age;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- individual intolerance to products that are part of anti-fungal varnish;
Adverse reactions include:
- unpleasant burning and redness at the application site (disappears by itself in a short period of time);
- the development of contact dermatitis. Such reactions can occur due to the inaccurate distribution of aggressive drugs and their interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and periungual ridge.
Opinions about varnish
After reading some reviews of people who use varnish on themselves to treat fungus and can advise varnish for nail fungus which is better, and which does not help them at all or causes additional difficulties. You should not blindly trust all reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the treatment process.