Onychomycosis: get rid of fungal disease

In scientific literature, fungi are called "mycoses". Specialists in the narrow sense who deal with this problem are called mycologists. If you encounter fungus for the first time and seek medical attention promptly, a regular therapist will be able to prescribe a treatment plan. Mycologists are consulted only in the most severe cases. There are two types of fungal diseases:

• Superficial (skin, nails, mucous membranes);
• Deep or systemic (involving deeper tissues).

Medications for this type of infection are also divided into topical and systemic. The former is applied directly to the affected area, while the latter is taken orally in the form of tablets, syrups and capsules. If you've been applying ointment to your nails for a whole month without any results, you may have to take the medicine internally."We often hope it will go away on its own, " the famed doctor and host of his own show said of the disease. - But medically, there is no known case where fungus appears on the nails and then disappears on its own. This won't happen. Either you live with it for the rest of your life, or you get a course of appropriate treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Some antifungal drugs can cause liver complications. Of course, if given a choice between healthy nails and a healthy liver, most people would choose the liver. But if we use the medication carefully and under the supervision of a doctor, we won't take any risks. "

prevention

If you frequently experience fungal infections, you should take precautions. Doctors recommend following the following rules.

• Pay close attention to your clothes and shoes. Socks should be cotton and fit loosely around the foot. They need to be replaced regularly. Be sure to wash with hot water. Use a special spray to disinfect shoes. Boots should be given time to dry between uses. It’s best to have three pairs of shoes for each season. Of course, shoes and underwear must be strictly personal. You can't walk around the apartment in shared slippers, or wear expensive shoes for friends.
• Hygiene products should also be personalized. Everyone knows about individual footcloths. But think about it, does each member of your family have a separate manicure set? It is best to buy several pairs of scissors and files and do not replace or borrow them from each other.

• Do not allow excessive humidity. After all, this is an ideal environment for the fungus to spread. Always towel dry after showering. Don't wear the same socks and sneakers after a run. Dry shoes thoroughly. If necessary, use powdered dry foot deodorant.
• Take care of your immunity. Fungus can appear on anyone's skin. But a healthy body is strong enough to overcome it, and the infection does not manifest itself in any way. Frequent fungal illnesses may be a sign that your immune defenses are declining. Taking antibiotics or anti-inflammatory hormones may have adverse effects on the immune system.
• Don’t confuse cleanliness with sterility. Hygiene is hygiene, but you shouldn't treat your feet with antibiotic ointment three times a day for no reason. Such measures can only be taken with a doctor's prescription. Bacteria and fungi are in balance on the skin of your feet. By eliminating all bacteria, we allow fungi to multiply uncontrollably.

How to treat?

Advertising provides us with many local medicines. In addition to their different ingredients, they also come in different forms. Drops, varnishes, ointments, creams. . . and there are also corresponding tablets.

suggestion.Treating nails with creams and ointments is not convenient. You have to apply them to absorbent cotton, apply them to your nails and seal them with a Band-Aid. Most medications require twice a day, which means the entire process must be repeated. While varnish can be applied simply with a brush, then drop the solution and wait for it to dry.

Your doctor will tell you the specific name of the medicine. Ask him to provide not only the trade name of the drug, but also the international name of the active substance. In this way, you can not only choose a specific expensive product in the pharmacy, but also its cheaper similar products.There are dozens of trade names for topical medications. None of this comes cheap. The price is largely due to the fact that one bottle or tube is enough to complete the entire treatment for one nail.

attention!Most medications need to be used until the nails grow back to health. The rate of nail growth is an individual characteristic of each organism. But for most people, it takes at least six months. Therefore, be prepared for long-term treatment.

If these remedies are not enough, your doctor will choose suitable tablets for you to enhance the effect of ointments and varnishes. These are very toxic products. But that doesn't mean they should be ignored. You just need to use them with extreme caution while constantly monitoring the condition of your liver. Courses of these medications are usually given intermittently to give the body time to rest.Although serious side effects may occur, you should not drop out of a course when you see the first signs of improvement. The doctor must stop the medication. Otherwise, the fungus is likely to come back. At the same time, he may develop resistance to the medications you prescribe. The doctor will then have to prescribe you higher doses of even more toxic drugs.So despite the advertising, treating onychomycosis can still be a difficult task. You can take the plunge and try self-medication at home to combat this problem. But it is best to seek help from a doctor. He will prescribe the appropriate topical medication for you. If that doesn't help, your doctor may recommend systemic medications. These pills have many side effects. But if you use them under the constant supervision of an expert, you can solve the problem without causing any damage to the body.