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 age of the patient.
Antifungal drugs are divided into two types: for external and internal use.External remedies themselves are effective only in the early stages of the disease, then the treatment must be comprehensive: the fungus must affect both from the outside and from the inside.
Internal preparations
For successful and safe treatment of fungal diseases with internal antifungal drugs, it is advisable to follow certain rules:
- The diagnosis must be confirmed by a doctor.
- During treatment with internal antifungal drugs, it is advisable to limit the intake of other medications, except for vital ones.
- The drugs should be used under the supervision of a doctor for a long 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 treatment is necessary.
Currently, pulse therapy is considered by dermatologists to be the most effective and safest method of treatment - taking medications at long intervals.In some cases, a 1-week treatment is prescribed, followed by a 3-week break and then a new seven-day treatment.During administration, the drug accumulates in the body and in the following weeks continues to actively fight the infection.
The full course of therapy usually lasts three months.However, once finished, the medication 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 drugs, including antibiotics.In addition, the risk of relapse is significantly reduced.
External preparations
When nails are affected, not only internal medications are used, but also topical medications: nail polishes, peel-off dressings and ointments (keratolytics).
Loceryl and batrafen 5% are used as antifungal varnishes, which can penetrate into the deep layers of the nail and nail bed.Varnishes are applied to the cut nail from above (areas of the affected nail surface can be removed with a nail file included with the varnish), cleaned and degreased (for example, with alcohol).
Additionally, keratolytic ointments and dressings can be used to remove the affected area of the nail.These products soften the nail, making it easy and painless to remove from the surface of the nail bed.The patches currently used 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 nail plate and covered with an adhesive plaster and bandage.After 2-3 days, the affected areas are cleaned and the patch is reapplied.The procedures are carried out daily until the complete removal of the affected nails.The average duration of treatment is 6 months for fingernails and 9 to 12 months for toenails.
In addition, a special set for nail treatment is produced, which includes an ointment that has antifungal and keratolytic effects, a nail scraper and a patch.
For fungal skin infections, topical creams, for example, loceryl, are used.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 treatment for a fungal infection, it is very important to disinfect everything that the fungus has come into contact with.Floors, walls, bathroom equipment, showers, bathrooms, as well as the patient's personal effects: underwear, shoes, skin and nail care items, must be disinfected.
The walls and bottom of the bathtub should be treated with a mixture of equal parts of washing powder and bleach or chloramine, diluted to a creamy consistency (the powder should 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 lateral areas of the shoes well with a moistened cotton swab.Then place the tampon in the toe of the shoe and place the shoe in a tightly sealed plastic bag for 24 hours.After using acetic acid or a 25% formaldehyde solution, the shoes are ventilated or cleaned with ammonia to eliminate the odor.
Underwear, tights, socks, and stockings can be disinfected by boiling them for 15 to 20 minutes in a 2% soap-sodium solution.Then they must be ironed with a hot iron.
Nail scissors are disinfected by dipping them in alcohol and then burning them over the flame of a lighter.
Prevention
To prevent foot fungal infection, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Only wear your own shoes.
- Do not wear tight shoes, which retain a humid environment and expose the skin and nails to friction and microtrauma.
- Take care of your shoes;Shoes should be dried well after use.
- People who frequently visit saunas, swimming pools, baths, sports and gyms are recommended to use topical antifungal agents (ointments, creams, varnishes).
- Avoid porous rugs in the bathroom: they are difficult to wash and therefore serve as an excellent refuge for a variety of microorganisms, including fungi.