Antifungal varnishes for health and beauty of nails

Fungus of the nail plate is a common infectious disease, which is not only aesthetically unsightly, but also a potentially dangerous health disorder, since without the necessary treatment it can spread to the skin under the nail plate, causing eczema, and even lead to nail loss.

On the planet, there are several tens of thousands of different fungi, 500 of which are dangerous for human health. This is the reason for the wide prevalence of fungal diseases and the means for their treatment, a vivid representative of which is an antifungal nail polish.

[1]

What is dangerous nail fungus?

Before you start to consider various remedies against the fungus, you should understand how the fungus enters the body, what factors influence its spread and how it exerts itself externally.

Fungi surround us everywhere, because they are much larger than people on Earth. Some of them safely exist inside a person throughout life, while others, when ingested, cause certain health disorders, such as onychomycosis of the nails, against the background of a decrease in immunity. The probability of infection with fungal diseases is always, but the outbreak of infection is in the warm and humid seasons, as this is just what is needed to develop the fungus.

Nail fungus can wait for us in the pool, public showers and baths. Infection with fungus occurs when wearing socks and shoes of the person carrying the infection, while using insufficiently disinfected manicure and pedicure tools. Some diseases, such as varicose veins, diabetes, etc., can trigger the development of fungal infection on the legs. In all these cases, the antifungal nail varnish can serve, if not prevention of infection by the fungus, as a salvage from an unpleasant fungal disease such as onychomycosis, affecting the nails of the hands and feet, as well as some other fungal skin lesions.

Symptoms of fungal infection can be considered:

• change the surface of the nail from smooth and smooth to undulating with longitudinal or transverse bands,
• change the color of the nail,
• the appearance of uncharacteristic yellowness and spots on its surface,
• thickening and destruction of the nail plate,
• unpleasant odor.

It is these changes, after confirmation of the diagnosis in a dermatologist, are indications for the use of nail polish antifungal action. In this case, the presence of even one of the listed symptoms can with a high probability to indicate a fungal nail injury.

Read also:

• Ointments and creams from a fungus on nails
• Tablets from the fungus of nails 
• Drops from the fungus of nails

Antifungal varnishes: properties and differences

Whatever the names of the antifungal nail polish, the effect of these drugs is directed at destroying the fungus by penetrating through the nail plate to the site of its spread.

Lotseril - liquid nail polish for external use with a pronounced antifungal effect. It is active against almost all fungi known to science. However, its use makes sense if the fungal infection has hit no more than 2/3 of the nail plate or as a preventive agent.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drug consists in the fact that it exerts a double action on the fungi: fungicidal, consisting in the destruction of the cell structure of the fungus, and fungistatic - slowing down and stopping the development and spread of the fungus. The active substance of lacquer - amorolfin - penetrates through the keratinized sections of the nail to the nail bed, creating there the concentration necessary for the destruction of the fungus. At the same time, the entire nail plate now poses a danger to the existence of fungal bacteria. With this method of applying the drug, a minimal harm to the human body is applied, since the agent is not practically absorbed into the blood, but has a local effect.

Contraindications to the use of laceril lacquer can be early childhood (influence is unknown) and sensitivity to the drug. It is with the latter contraindication that the occurrence of side effects of an allergic nature is associated.

It is allowed to use antifungal nail polish during pregnancy, since there is virtually no risk for the fetus, so few harmful substances enter the mother's body. Nevertheless, doctors do not recommend risking in a situation where the danger to the mother does not exceed the risk of the pathology of the fetus.

The use of the drug does not require certain skills, but implies adherence to certain rules. This is facilitated by the completion of the preparation with special nail files designed for the treatment of the nail before it is coated with lacquer, cotton swabs with alcohol impregnation for cleaning and degreasing the prepared nail plate and spatula applicators for applying varnish to the surface of the nail.

Method of application: before applying the medical varnish, the affected areas of the nail are neatly removed with a nail file and processed with a cotton swab with alcohol. Now with the spatula, without touching the upper part of the vial, the antifungal preparation is applied directly to the nail and left to dry for 3-4 minutes. Do not forget to keep the vial closed and discard the tampon after each use.

The procedure is performed 1 or 2 times a week, with the full course of treatment lasting from 6 months with onychomycosis of the fingers to 1 year with fungal nail diseases on the legs.

The clinically expressed interaction of this drug with other drugs was not revealed. There were also no cases of overdose by the agent.

Shelf life antimycotic nail varnish does not exceed Lotseril 3- years from the date of manufacture, subject to the drug storage conditions: sealed package in air at a temperature of 30 to ^about C

An analogue of the varnish for the treatment of fungal infection "Loceril" is a 5% "Oflomil" preparation with the same basic active substance in the composition of the drug. It is noteworthy that even the equipment for both drugs is similar. They differ only in auxiliary substances. Nevertheless, according to reviews, the drugs are interchangeable. Someone is helped by "Lotseril", and someone prefers "Oflomil".

Anti- fungal nail polish "Exoderyl" is a high-speed drug with pronounced fungicidal action and long shelf life (5 years). It simply kills the cells of the fungus, and thus prevents its spread to other surfaces of the nail and skin around the nail plate. In addition, the varnish has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is able to quickly remove the itching and flaking of the skin around the nail. The first tangible results of its action can be observed after 3-4 weeks from the beginning of application. And yet the full course of treatment of the fungus takes about 6 months.

Pharmacokinetics. The active substance of the drug - naphthyfine - penetrates into various layers of the skin and under the nail plate, where it forms a concentration sufficient to destroy various strains of fungal infection.

Treatment of onychomycosis for "Exoderil" is only one of the indications for use, in addition, it also treats some fungal diseases of the skin and scalp.

In contrast to the "Lotseril" in the complete set of lacquer "Exoderil" does not include auxiliary means for nail care. Nevertheless, before applying the varnish for the first time, it is necessary to remove all the damaged nail sections with a nail file and scissors as carefully as possible. Then apply the varnish to the clean, dry surface of the nail and a small patch of skin around it. The procedure for applying the drug should be carried out every day 2 times a day.

Side effects of Exoderil are limited to local reactions of skin redness, light burning and dry skin at the site of application, and they are not a reason to stop treatment. Contraindications to the use of this drug against the fungus are due to the lack of information about its effect on certain categories of patients: children, pregnant women, nursing mothers. Refuse the use of "Exodermil" varnish and those who have increased sensitivity to the components of the drug: naftifin and propylene glycol. Such patients are not recommended to use this antifungal agent without first consulting a doctor.

"Batrafen" - 8% antifungal agent with a wide spectrum of action. It is active against most species of fungi and pathogenic bacteria. The active substance - cyclopyrox - exerts an effect on the cells of the fungus, which depresses its development. By inhibiting the entry into the cell of substances necessary for its vital activity and promoting their accelerated elimination, cyclopyrox purposefully weakens the cells of the fungus, which leads to their death.

"Batrafen" is used strictly for the treatment of fungal nail diseases, regardless of the degree of infection. Its use implies the care of a sick nail according to a certain pattern. As in the first cases, treatment begins with the maximum removal of the affected part of the nail with scissors and creating a rough surface with a nail file. The varnish must be applied strictly to the prepared nail.

The scheme of application of the varnish "Batrafen" is as follows:

• during the first month of treatment - 1 time in 2 days,
• for the second month - 1 time in 3-4 days,
• for the third and subsequent months - 1 time in 7 days.

In this case, do not forget every 6-7 days to remove the overgrown part of the damaged nail with scissors, after removing the treatment coating. This can be done by the usual means for removing varnish, or you can simply scrape the coating off the surface of the nail after taking a warm bath. Use of cosmetics for coloring nails during the treatment with varnish "Batrafen" is not recommended.

The duration of treatment of the fungus will depend on the depth of the nail and the extent of infection. The maximum duration of the drug is 6 months.                                                       

Side effects from the application of the varnish "Batrafen" are extremely rare and are reduced to local reactions of an allergic nature.

[2], [3]

Antifungal nail varnishes with natural ingredients

"Demikten" - a relatively inexpensive antifungal drug on a natural basis. It is used both for the treatment of fungal infections, and for the prevention of disease when visiting the pool, sauna and other similar public places.

The varnish from the fungus "Demikten" is an effective and safe remedy with pronounced anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties. The scope of its action is not limited to treating the nail lesions with fungus. Indication for the use of "Demictena": various fungal diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, seizures, acne and acne, damage to the skin in the form of wounds, cuts, burns, insect and animal bites. Apply it and in order to get rid of the unpleasant odor of the feet.

Treatment of onychomycosis with the help of "Demikten" is carried out daily for 4-6 months. Before the first application of the product, it is necessary to prepare the nail, removing the affected parts to the maximum and wiping dry.

The varnish is applied to the nail with a thin layer. After 3-5 minutes, it forms a strong "breathable" protective film, preventing the ingress of various infections into the nail, thus providing a preventive effect.

Another feature of the antifungal lacquer "Demicten" is that during the treatment it is not forbidden to use cosmetic varnishes. They do not react with Demichen and do not reduce its effectiveness. Since this lacquer is a natural remedy, there are no contraindications to its use during pregnancy, lactation and childhood.

Antifungal lacquer "Mikozan" for its therapeutic effect is different from all of the above drugs. Pharmacodynamics of the drug is such that it contributes to a rapid cure of such an unpleasant and destructive nail infection, attacking the fungus in two ways. On the one hand, it deprives the fungus of the nutrient medium, destroying the enzymes of the protease, which contribute to the destruction of the nail by the fungus and its further parasitization. On the other hand, biologically active components of the drug act on the cell membrane of the fungus, violating its integrity. This leads to the inevitable death of cells and fading of the fungal infection.

Like "Demicten", the lacquer "Mikozan" forms a preventive film on the surface of the nail, which protects both from getting the fungal infection, and from its further spread.

The set of antifungal nail polish "Mikozan" includes directly a tube with an emulsion, nail files for single-use nails, a special brush for easy application of nail varnish.

At the very beginning of treatment and subsequently once a week, you should clean the nails of fungal lesions and lacquer residues with the attached nail files, which are then disposed of.

Duration of treatment "Mikozan" with a daily two-time application is from 3 to 5 weeks. Longer treatment requires a re-visit to the doctor.

Some features of the antifungal varnish "Mikozan" (the absence of dyes in the composition and any smell) allow us to safely apply it to allergy sufferers, people with diabetes and lung diseases. Allergic reactions in the form of unpleasant itching and redness occur extremely rarely in case of intolerance of the components of the drug or with too sensitive skin of the hands and feet in the nail area.

Despite the fact that the main active components of the "Mikozan" varnish are biologically active substances, this drug is still not recommended for use during pregnancy, during lactation and for the treatment of children under the age of four.

In order to protect your nails from fungal infection and make them strong and healthy, you can also purchase a cosmetic varnish with the protective properties of Akileine Onykoleine based on natural essential oils with bactericidal effect and a complex of vitamins for strength and nail growth. Daily use of this product will help to strengthen the nails and provide them with permanent protection against fungus.

Akileine Onykoleine lacquer is not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women, and children up to the age of 7 years. Avoid contact with varnish on damaged skin.

[4],

Special instructions when using antifungal varnishes

The shelf life of most antifungal nail varnishes is 3 years, after which they lose their therapeutic effect. But we must take into account that the storage period of the open vial once or a tube with a therapeutic agent when ingested is reduced to 6 months.

When treating fungal infection with specialized varnishes, one-time aids should be used: nail files and cotton swabs, which will prevent the transfer of infection from one nail to another.

And one more important point. The fact that there have been no cases of overdosage with curative lacquers today, and these drugs are sold without a doctor's prescription does not at all mean that one should become a pioneer and engage in uncontrolled use of medicines for a long time according to one's own indications. Before applying any antifungal lacquer, you must carefully read the instructions to it and follow it exactly, so as not to harm your body.

This is especially true for pregnant women. As such, there are no contraindications to the use of antifungal nail polish during pregnancy and lactation. Nevertheless, doctors do not recommend using any of the drugs without prior consultation because of insufficient knowledge of its influence on fetal development.