Healthy, beautiful nails are an indispensable part of the image of a well-groomed person. While greeting, the interlocutor pays attention to the hands during the handshake and unconsciously assesses their condition. That's why it's recommended to use antifungal nail polish as a preventative and treatment measure.
Principle of action of antifungal varnish
The treatment lasts for several days after application to the nail.
Depending on the severity of the disease and the location of the fungal infection, doctors will recommend different means and techniques, which in each specific case will cure the fungus in the shortest possible time. At the initial stage of infection, a good response was noted after using a special antifungal varnish. The active ingredients of the composition penetrate deep into the nail plate and can even destroy fungal spores.
When applied, the nail plate softens, thereby improving the penetration of the treatment agent. After drying, the antifungal concentration in the affected tissues increases by 20% and persists for 7 days. The maximum concentration of the active ingredient is achieved 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 is identical. Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to eliminate onychomycosis and prevent its recurrence. To prevent fungal infections, such substances are also used very effectively.
Nail fungus polish can be alcohol-based or oil-based. Regardless of consistency, they are equally effective in inhibiting the spread of fungal infections. The main thing is to find out in advance the type of pathogen in order to correctly choose the active ingredient and its concentration. Only in this case the use of varnish will bring the expected result.
The liquid consistency allows the active ingredients of the varnish to penetrate into every small crack on the treated surface for maximum effectiveness even on the deepest layers of the nail plate. The active components of the varnish work most effectively at the early stages of the development of fungal infections. They destroy not only fungal cells, but also their spores. When dry, this composition covers the nail with an imperceptible film, blocking the ability of oxygen to penetrate the remaining spores, making them unable to reproduce further.
When caring for nails affected by fungus, it is necessary to strictly use individual tools, which must be sterilized after each use. Otherwise, you could cause reinfection.
When treating nail fungus, it is important to note that toenails can accumulate several times more drugs 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 slows down the treatment process.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's look at all the positive and negative aspects of using antifungal nail polish. The treatment procedure itself requires preliminary preparation of the nail. Note that most types of fungus are commonly diagnosed in the feet. The reason is that when wearing dirty, poor quality, uncomfortable shoes, the feet are often exposed to a warm, humid environment, which itself is a favorable condition for fungus to grow.
Some of the most important disadvantages of antifungal varnishes are the high cost and long preparation time of the feet before using the product. Cheap drugs of this type may be fake, so you should not buy them.
During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicure, varnish, use of lotions and creams). These measures can stimulate the growth of fungi and aggravate the inflammatory process.
Positive aspects include the product's effectiveness at the early stages of fungal disease development and ease of use. An important advantage of this form of antifungal drug 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 the need for additional drugs;
- minimal toxicity;
- is being sold for free;
- Easy to use;
- has a preventive effect;
- Act sparingly.
How to properly apply medical varnish
Before using any type of nail polish to treat toenail fungus, you need to prepare the infected surface. To do this, you need to wash your feet, preferably using laundry soap, and dry your skin with a natural cloth. If necessary, you can steam your nails in water with the addition of celandine alcohol or propolis (for additional disinfection).
Next, you need to disinfect the nail surface and, using a special file that comes with 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 nails - a hygienic bath with soap and soda solution.
After completing the preparation of the infected nail, an antifungal agent will be applied. Experts recommend performing the procedure at least once every 7 days. Before reapplying the varnish, the previous treatment layer must be removed with a regular solvent. Processing is carried out strictly according to the instructions that come with the kit, since each drug has its own nuances when used.
Which nail polish is better for nail fungus - a review of effective remedies
Very often, patients ask doctors which antifungal varnish 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 manifest itself in completely different ways. Below we present a list of the most effective antifungal drugs for nails, but they should still be chosen individually.
Polished with active ingredient amorolfine
This is one of the cheapest 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 early stages 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 use, you may feel a slight burning sensation in the treatment area.
Polished with active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride
The same colorless varnish, applied in a thin layer after removing the upper keratinized layer from the nail plate. Polish set includes disposable nail files (12 pieces), applicator, cleaning swabs and spatula.
When used properly, the drug inhibits the synthesis of ergosterol. As a result of such a failure, processes are introduced that have a destructive effect on the vital activity of fungal cells.
The composition of the varnish quickly penetrates the treated nail plate and after 24 hours the maximum treatment effect will be achieved. The active ingredient of the drug is effective for 10 days after the first use of varnish. Varnish works best in the early stages of the disease. After applying the medicine, use a spoon to wait until the varnish is completely absorbed. A few minutes is enough for this. Next, the spoon is wiped with an alcohol wipe (cotton swab) and folded into place.
Gloss paint with active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride - 64. 0 mg
This anti-fungal toenail varnish works well even in severe cases. But he will not be able to satisfy you with his price. To undergo varnish treatment, you will have to spend a lot of money. The active ingredient amorolfine effectively kills yeast and mold. If you strictly follow the treatment regimen, unpleasant symptoms will quickly disappear and the fungus will be completely destroyed.
This medication is often recommended as the most effective antifungal nail polish. At the same time, it has a pleasant smell, eliminates inflammation, which leads to a decrease in itching and peeling. The treatment process will be long and in severe cases can last up to 4-6 months, even up to a year.
The polish tube comes with all the necessary accessories: disinfectant-impregnated wipes, applicator and nail file for single use. The affected nail area is removed with a file, the surface is degreased with a napkin before applying the drug, and an applicator is used to carefully distribute the product onto the nail plate.
Polish with active ingredient ciclopirox
Before applying medicated varnish, the nails must be pre-treated
The main active ingredient ciclopirox has a broad spectrum of action and kills cells of many pathogenic fungi. It can be used to treat mold, yeast, skin fungus and other parasitic fungi and bacteria.
This composition quickly penetrates into the deepest layers of the nail plate and nail bed and begins to actively destroy fungi within a day after the first application.
The application pattern of this varnish is slightly different from other varnishes. The first month the drug is applied every two days. During the second month of treatment - twice a week. During the third month of treatment, one treatment per week is sufficient.
Before applying the varnish, you must thoroughly clean the affected surface of the nail and trim the length of the nail as much as possible with scissors. During the next application, the previous layer of varnish will be 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 stores, so as not to buy a fake, buy all medicines only in trustworthy 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 this paragraph of the article. Antifungal paint is a medical drug, therefore, like all drugs, it has a number of contraindications and possible side effects.
Contraindications include:
- preschool age;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- Individual intolerance to products that are part of antifungal varnishes;
Adverse reactions include:
- burning sensation and unpleasant redness at the site of application (disappears on its own within a short period of time);
- development of contact dermatitis. Such a reaction can occur due to incorrect distribution of a strong drug and its interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and periungual borders.
Opinions about varnish
After reading some reviews of people who used varnish to treat fungus and can advise which varnish is better for nail fungus and which one did not help them or caused additional inconvenience. You should not blindly trust all reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the course of treatment.