Healthy, beautiful nails are an integral part of the image of a well-groomed person. When greeting, the interlocutor pays attention to the hands when they are shaking and unconsciously assesses their condition. That is why it is recommended to use nail polish against nail fungus as a preventive and therapeutic tool.
The principle of action of antifungal varnishes
The treatment lasts for many days after application on the nail.
Depending on the severity of the disease and the location of the fungal infection, doctors recommend different means and techniques that will cure the fungus in the shortest possible time in each specific case. In the initial phase of the infection, a good reaction was recorded after using a special antifungal varnish. The active components of the composition penetrate deep into the nail plate and can even kill fungal spores.
When applied, the nail plate softens, improving the penetration of the treatment. After drying, the concentration of the antifungal drug in the affected tissues increases by 20% and lasts for seven days. The maximum concentration of the active substance is reached on the seventh day of using the polish 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 of them is identical. Therapeutic antifungal varnishes are actively used to eliminate onychomycosis and prevent disease relapse. For the prevention of fungal infections, such agents are also used very effectively.
Antifungal nail polish can have an alcohol or oil base. Regardless of the consistency, they are equally effective in inhibiting the spread of fungal infection. The main thing is to find out the type of pathogen in advance in order to correctly choose the active component and its concentration. 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 initial stage of the development of a fungal infection. They destroy not only fungal cells, but also their spores. When it dries, the composition covers the nail with an imperceptible film, which blocks the possibility of oxygen penetrating the remaining spores, which prevents their further reproduction.
When caring for nails affected by fungi, it is necessary to use strictly individual tools, which must be disinfected after each use. Otherwise, you may cause a re-infection.
When treating nail fungus, it should be taken into account that toenails can accumulate several times more medicinal substances 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 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 preparation of the nails. Keep in mind that the most common toenail 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 nail polish are its high cost and the time-consuming preparation of the feet before using the product. Cheap drugs of this type may indicate a fake, so you should not buy them.
During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon foot care procedures (pedicure, varnishing, use of lotions and creams). These measures can cause increased growth of fungi and worsening of the inflammatory process.
Positive aspects include the effectiveness of the product in the initial stage of the development of fungal diseases and the ease of application. An important advantage of this form of antimycotic drug is not only the ease of application, but also the creation of a permanent film that "fixes" the active substance in the affected area and prevents its washing away.
We can add a whole list of positive aspects of use:
- quickly fixed on the nail;
- local effect without additional drugs;
- minimal toxicity;
- is freely available;
- easy to use;
- acts preventively;
- seems frugal.
How to properly apply medical varnishes
Before using any anti-fungal nail polish on your feet, you need to prepare the infected area. To do this, you need to wash your feet, preferably with laundry soap, and dry the skin with a natural cloth. If necessary, you can scald your nails in water with the addition of celandine or propolis tincture (for additional disinfection).
Then you need to disinfect the surface of the nails and, using the special file that comes with the nail polish, clean the affected surface of the nail and shorten its length. Only after that 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 nail - a hygienic bath with a solution of soap and soda.
When the preparation of the infected nail is finished, an antimycotic is applied. Experts recommend performing procedures 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 that come with the kit, because 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 their doctor which anti-fungal nail polish is considered the most effective. It is impossible to recommend the best nail polish for toenail fungus due to the individual characteristics of each person's organism, the degree of infection and the type of fungus that causes it. Therefore, the same medicine can be shown in completely different ways in different cases. Below we present a list of the most effective remedies against nail fungus, but they should still be selected individually.
Paint with the active ingredient amorolfine
This is one of the cheapest drugs in the line of anti-fungal varnishes. Its price depends on the place of purchase. The therapeutic effect of this varnish appears only in the initial stage of fungal development, when the nail has not lost its normal structure, and the nail plate is not affected by more than a third. Otherwise, its use will be useless. During application, a slight burning sensation may be felt in the treatment areas.
Lacquer with the active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride
The same colorless varnish, which is applied in a thin layer after removing the upper keratinized layer from the nail plate. The polish set includes disposable nail files (12 pieces), applicators, cleaning sticks and spatulas.
When used correctly, the drug works by inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol. As a result of such a failure, processes are triggered 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 achieves the maximum therapeutic effect. The active ingredient of the drug works 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 are enough for this. Then the spatula is wiped with an alcohol wipe (tamper) and folded back into place.
Varnish with the active ingredient amorolfine hydrochloride - 64. 0 mg
This toenail fungus polish works well even in advanced cases of the disease. But he will not be able to satisfy you with his prices. To undergo a light treatment, you will have to spend a lot of money. The active ingredient amorolphin is effective in the process of destroying yeast and mold fungi. If you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen, the unpleasant symptoms will quickly disappear, and the fungi will be completely destroyed.
This medicine is often recommended as the most effective nail polish. At the same time, it smells pleasant, removes inflammation, which leads to a reduction in itching and flaking. The course of treatment will be long and in advanced cases it can last up to 4-6 months and even up to a year.
The nail polish tube comes with all the necessary accessories: wipes soaked in disinfectant, applicators and disposable nail files. The affected area of the nail is removed with a file, the surface is degreased with a towel before applying the medicine, and applicators are used to carefully distribute the product on the nail plate.
Lacquer with the active ingredient ciclopirox
Before applying the medicinal varnish, the nails must be pre-treated
The main active ingredient ciclopirox has a wide spectrum of action and destroys the 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 of this varnish is slightly different from other varnishes. For the first month, the medicine is applied 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 thoroughly clean the affected nail surface and trim its length as much 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. Nail polish from nail fungus is better to buy in a pharmacy. Do not trust dubious stalls and shops, so as not to buy a fake, buy all medicines only at trusted places.
Side effects and contraindications
Even the best varnish for nail fungus on fingers and hands has contraindications for use and side effects, so carefully study this section of the article. Antifungal varnish is a medical drug, therefore, like all drugs, it has a number of contraindications and possible side effects.
Contraindications include:
- preschool age;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding process;
- individual intolerance to products that are part of antifungal varnish;
Adverse reactions include:
- unpleasant burning and redness at the application site (disappears by itself in a short period of time);
- development of contact dermatitis. Such a reaction can occur due to imprecise distribution of an aggressive drug and its interaction with the delicate skin of the cuticle and periungual ridges.
Opinions about varnishes
After reading a few reviews of people who have used nail polishes on themselves to treat the fungus and I can advise which nail polish is better and which one did not help them at all or caused additional discomfort. You shouldn't blindly trust all reviews, but you can draw some conclusions about the treatment process.