Treatment of fungal diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist.Incorrectly selected antifungal agents can only lead to temporary improvement, without curing the disease itself.
Treatment of fungal diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist.In the case of self-medication, incorrectly selected antifungal agents can only lead to temporary improvement, without curing the disease itself.
When choosing a treatment method, it is necessary to take into account the area and shape of the lesion, the degree of prevalence of the fungus, the presence of concomitant diseases and the patient's age.
Antifungal drugs are divided into two types: for external and internal use.External remedies themselves are effective only in the initial stages of the disease, so treatment must be comprehensive: the fungus must be affected both from the outside and from the inside.
Internal preparations
For successful and safe treatment of fungal diseases with internal antifungal medications, it is advisable to follow some rules:
- The diagnosis must be confirmed by a doctor.
- During treatment with internal antifungals, it is advisable to limit the intake of other medications, with the exception of vital ones.
- Medicines should be used under the supervision of a doctor for a long period of time, until the fungus completely disappears.
- Control examinations should initially be carried out once every 2 weeks and then once a month.Control scraping - 6 months after the end of treatment.If a fungus is detected, a second course of treatment is necessary.
Currently, dermatologists consider pulse therapy to be the most effective and safe method of treatment - taking medications at long intervals.In some cases, a 1-week course of therapy is prescribed, followed by a 3-week break and then a new seven-day course of treatment.During administration, the medicine accumulates in the body and in the following weeks it continues to actively fight the infection.
The full course of therapy usually lasts three months.However, after its end, the medicine continues to act for a year, protecting against the reappearance of the fungus.This technique, on the one hand, allows the body to “rest” from taking medications, on the other hand, it does not exclude the possibility of taking other medications, including antibiotics.Furthermore, the risk of relapse is significantly reduced.
External preparations
When nails are affected, not only internal medicines are used, but also topical medicines - nail polishes and peel-off plasters and ointments (keratolytics).
Loceryl and batrafen 5% are used as antifungal varnishes, which can penetrate the deep layers of the nail and the nail bed.Varnishes are applied to the sawn nail from above (affected areas of the nail surface can be removed with a file that comes with the varnish), cleaned and degreased (for example, with alcohol).
Additionally, keratolytic ointments and plasters can be used to remove the affected area of the nail.These products soften the nail, as a result of which it is removed from the surface of the nail bed easily and painlessly.Currently used adhesives contain urea or salicylic acid as a keratolytic component.Sometimes an antiseptic (quinozole, iodine) or a local antifungal agent such as ketoconazole is added to the patch.
A keratolytic patch is applied to the surface of the nail and covered with tape and a bandage.After 2-3 days, the affected areas are cleaned and the patch is reapplied.Procedures are carried out daily until the affected nails are completely removed.The average duration of treatment is 6 months for nails and 9 to 12 months for toenails.
In addition, a special set for nail treatment is produced, which includes an ointment with antifungal and keratolytic effects, a nail scraper and a sticker.
For fungal skin infections, topical creams are used, for example, loceryl.The cream is applied daily to the affected areas.The average duration of treatment is 2 to 3 weeks;in foot treatment - up to 6 weeks.
Treatment of contaminated items (disinfection)
During and after treating a fungal infection, it is very important to disinfect everything the fungus has come into contact with.Floors, walls, equipment of baths, showers, toilets, as well as the patient's personal belongings: underwear, shoes, skin and nail care items must be disinfected.
The walls and bottom of the bathtub must be treated with a mixture of equal parts of washing powder and bleach or chloramine, diluted to a creamy consistency (the powder must be washed off after 30 minutes).You can also use a 5% chloramine or bleach solution, or a 3% Lysol solution.
It is recommended to treat shoes with solutions of formaldehyde (25%) or acetic acid (40%).You should clean the insoles and sides of your shoes well with a damp cotton swab.Then, place the tampon on the toe of the shoe and place the shoe itself in an airtight plastic bag for 24 hours.After using acetic acid or 25% formaldehyde solution, shoes are ventilated or wiped with ammonia to eliminate odor.
Underwear, stockings, stockings and tights can be disinfected by boiling for 15-20 minutes in a 2% soap and soda solution.Then, they must be ironed with a hot iron.
Nail scissors are disinfected by dipping them in alcohol and then burning them in the flame of a burner.
Prevention
To prevent foot fungus infection, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Only wear your own shoes.
- Do not wear tight shoes, which retain the humid environment and expose the skin and nails to friction and microtrauma.
- Take care of your shoes;shoes must be very dry after use.
- People who frequently visit saunas, swimming pools, baths, sports and gyms are recommended to use local antifungals (ointments, creams, varnishes).
- Avoid porous rugs in the bathroom - they are difficult to wash and therefore serve as an excellent refuge for various microorganisms, including fungi.