Treatment of fungal diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist.Improperly selected antifungal agents can lead to only temporary improvement without curing the disease itself.
Treatment of fungal diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist.In the case of self-medication, wrongly selected antifungal agents can lead to only a 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 accompanying diseases and the age of the patient.
Antifungal drugs are divided into two types: for external and internal use.External drugs alone are effective only in the early stages of the disease, then the treatment must be comprehensive: the fungus must be affected both externally and internally.
Internal preparations
For the 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 drugs, except vital ones.
- Medicines should be used under the supervision of a doctor for a long time, until the fungus completely disappears.
- Control examinations must be performed initially once every 2 weeks and then once a month.Control scraping - 6 months after the end of the treatment.If fungus is detected, another treatment is necessary.
Currently, dermatologists consider pulse therapy to be the most effective and safest method of treatment - taking medication 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 drug 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 completion, the drug continues to work for a year, protecting against the reappearance of the fungus.This technique, on the one hand, allows the body to "rest" from taking drugs, on the other hand, it does not exclude the possibility of taking other drugs, including antibiotics.In addition, the risk of recurrence is significantly reduced.
External preparations
When the nails are affected, not only internal drugs are used, but also local drugs - nail polishes and peel-off (keratolytic) plasters and ointments.
Loceryl and 5% batrafen are used as antifungal varnishes, which can penetrate into the deep layers of the nail.Varnishes are applied to the upper cut nail (affected nail surfaces can be removed using the file included with the varnish), clean and degrease (e.g. with alcohol) the nail.
In addition, keratolytic ointments and patches can be used to remove the affected area of the nail.These products soften the nail, which makes it easy and painless to remove from the nail surface.Currently used patches 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 an adhesive patch and bandage.After 2-3 days, the affected areas are cleaned and the patch is reapplied.Procedures are performed daily until the affected nails are completely removed.The average duration of treatment is 6 months for fingernails and 9-12 months for toenails.
In addition, a special set is produced for the treatment of nails, which includes an ointment that has both antifungal and keratolytic effects, a nail scraper and a patch.
For fungal infections of the skin, topical creams are used, for example, loceryl.The cream is applied daily to the affected areas.The average duration of treatment is 2-3 weeks;for foot treatment - up to 6 weeks.
Treatment of contaminated objects (disinfection)
During and after treating a yeast infection, it is very important to disinfect everything the fungus has come in contact with.Floors, walls, equipment in bathrooms, showers, bathrooms, as well as the patient's personal belongings: underwear, shoes, skin and nail care products should 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% solution of chloramine or bleach, or a 3% solution of Lysol.
It is recommended to treat shoes with solutions of formaldehyde (25%) or acetic acid (40%).The insoles and side parts of the shoes should be thoroughly wiped with a moistened stick.Then put a tampon in the top of the shoe, and put the shoe itself in an airtight plastic bag for 24 hours.After using acetic acid or 25% formaldehyde solution, the shoes are ventilated or wiped with ammonia to remove the smell.
Underwear, socks, stockings, tights can be disinfected by boiling for 15-20 minutes in a 2% solution of soap and soda.Then they should be ironed with a hot iron.
Nail clippers are disinfected by immersing them in alcohol and then burning them in the flame of a burner.
Prevention
In order to prevent foot fungus infection, it is recommended to follow the following rules:
- Use only your own shoes.
- Do not wear tight shoes, which retain the moist environment and expose the skin and nails to friction and microtrauma.
- Take care of your shoes;shoes should be well dried after wearing.
- People who frequently visit saunas, swimming pools, baths, sports and gyms are recommended to use local antifungal agents (ointments, creams, varnishes).
- Avoid porous carpets in the bathroom - they are difficult to wash and therefore serve as an excellent refuge for various microorganisms, including fungi.