Nail fungus drops - means for local therapy of mycoses

Medicines for external use are available in the form of ointments, creams, gels, varnishes; there are also drops for nail fungus.

Names of drops:

Damage to the nail plates by pathogenic dermatophyte fungi of the genus Trichophyton, candidal fungi or mold blastomycetes causes the most common and extremely contagious disease - onychomycosis.

Treatment of this disease, like all mycoses, is etiotropic, that is, aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology. For this purpose, various antimycotics are used - antifungal drugs of general and local action.

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Indications for use of drops for nail fungus

Local therapy with drops for nail fungus is widely used for fungal infections that affect the nails, penetrating through their free edge into the bed and root.

Indications for use of drops for nail fungus: appearance of spots on the nail plates, change in their color; thickening and deformation of the nail due to the development of hyperkeratosis; atrophy of the affected part of the nail (the nail exfoliates and crumbles); separation of the outer edge of the nail plate from the bed.

As already noted, the pathogens of onychomycosis are different, and the specific "culprit" of this pathology can only be identified by a dermatologist or mycologist - based on a microbiological study of particles of the diseased nail. So with the problem that has arisen, you must definitely contact a specialist, since an attempt at self-treatment is very often unsuccessful.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

The biochemical mechanism of action of antifungal drugs, that is, the pharmacodynamics of drops for nail fungus, is expressed either in the form

Destruction of the structure of pathogenic fungi cells (due to damage to their cell membranes), or in the form of blockade of intracellular biosynthesis and the process of cell reproduction.

In the first case, we are talking about a fungicidal effect, which leads to the death of cells of pathogenic fungi; in the second case, we are talking about a fungistatic effect, that is, a slowdown in the division of cells of the pathogen.

The above drops for nail fungus are both fungistatic and fungicidal in their pharmacodynamics. Their active ingredients (in Exoderil - naftifine hydrochloride, in Bifonazole - imidazole, in Ciclopirox - hydroxypyridone) stop the production of ergosterol - the main hydrocarbon compound of the fungal cell membrane. In turn, this causes an increase in the level of the hydrocarbon trans-isomer of squalene in the cells of pathogenic fungi and disrupts their metabolism. As a result, the growth of pathogenic microflora cells stops.

In addition, further accumulation of squalene captures the endoplasmic reticulum inside the cytoplasm of fungal cells. The inevitable result is a complete loss of viability of the pathogen.

The pharmacokinetics of drops for nail fungus is described taking into account that these drugs are applied externally. Their active ingredients penetrate the infected nails through the skin and create concentrations in the layers of the nail plates that are optimal for therapeutic effects. At the same time, the content of some medicinal substances that enter the bloodstream and interstitial fluids does not exceed 4-6% of the total volume; they are transformed into metabolites that are excreted from the body with bile and urine.

Exoderil drops for nail fungus

The antifungal drug Exoderil is available in several forms, one of which is Exoderil drops for nail fungus. A 1% solution of this drug is active against dermatophytes, yeast and yeast-like fungi, as well as mold fungi of the genus Aspergillus.

Contraindications to the use of Exoderil drops for nail fungus include individual hypersensitivity to its components, as well as the presence of any damage to the skin in the area where the medicinal solution is applied.

In some cases, side effects of Exoderil nail fungus drops are possible: burning, redness and dryness of the skin around the nail. But it is not recommended to interrupt treatment.

According to the official instructions, the method of application and dosage are as follows. The solution of Exoderil should be applied in a thin layer to the damaged part of the nail plate, as well as to the adjacent areas of the skin, rubbing it in gently. The procedure is carried out once a day. The duration of the course of therapy for nail fungus is individual and depends on the rate of nail regrowth in a particular patient. Cases of overdose of this drug in the form of drops have not been recorded in clinical practice.

Storage conditions for drops against nail fungus Exoderil - dry place, protected from direct sunlight; temperature - no higher than +25°C.

The shelf life of the drug is 5 years.

Nail Fungus Spray - Terbinafine

Spray against nail fungus terbinafine (synonyms - binafin, lamisil, lamican, mikonorm, etc.) is a drug used in the treatment of nail fungus primarily (i.e. the drug of choice). In addition to nail fungus, terbinafine is used in the treatment of such dermatological diseases as microsporia, trichophytosis, candidiasis and epidermophytosis.

The release form of this antifungal drug for external use is a cream and a solution of 20 ml in dropper bottles.

Method of administration and dosage: before starting treatment, remove the affected nail plate using special keratolytic agents, then apply drops to the nail bed twice a day.

Nail Fungus Varnish - Ciclopirox

The drug ciclopirox (synonyms - ciclopirox olamine, batrafen, dafnegin) is active against such causative agents of nail fungus as Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Candida albicans, yeast-like and mold fungi. It is also effective against lesions caused by some strains of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

This remedy is most effective in the early stages of the disease, when the fungus affects a third or half of the nail plate (without affecting the nail root - matrix), as well as after oral administration of systemic antifungal drugs.

Method of administration and dosage

To increase the effectiveness of the drug, it is recommended to remove as much of the affected nail as possible before starting the course of treatment, and roughen the remaining part with a nail file. Lacco ciclopirox is applied once a day every other day for 1 month, then twice a week for the second month, and once a week for the subsequent third month of treatment.

The maximum duration of the course of treatment is 6 months, although if there are no positive results after a month of using drops for nail fungus, additional research should be carried out to clarify the initial diagnosis.

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Drops for nail fungus - bifonazole

Bifonazole drops for foot fungus (synonym - mycospor) are a 1% solution in 15 ml bottles, which is recommended to be applied to the nail bed, lightly rubbing the drug into the affected area. The solution is used 1-2 times a day.

Indications for the use of bifonazole drops for nail fungus: microsporia, trichophytosis, rubrophytosis, pityriasis versicolor, candidiasis of the nails and nail folds, diaper rash between the toes and increased sweating of the feet.

According to experienced dermatologists, if the nail is damaged and it is necessary to remove it, it is best to use not bifonazole drops, but ointment. It should be applied to the affected area, and then a plaster and bandage should be applied on top for 24 hours. Each time, before applying the next dose of the drug, the fingers should be kept in warm water for several minutes and parts of the softened nail should be carefully removed with a scraper attached to the ointment. This should be done until the entire softened part of the nail is removed. Usually, this process takes 1-2 weeks.

Clinical experience shows that in order to increase the effectiveness of treatment of nail mycosis and reduce its duration, it is advisable to combine drops for nail fungus with oral administration of antifungal tablets prescribed by a dermatologist.

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Contraindications to the use of drops for nail fungus

All medications for external use against onychomycosis, without exception, have the same contraindications, which come down to three positions: individual intolerance or hypersensitivity to the components of the drugs; for women - the period of pregnancy and lactation; childhood - up to 10 years.

As stated in the instructions, although these medications do not have a teratogenic or embryotoxic effect when applied locally, their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be justified by the fact that the expected benefit to the mother will be higher than the potential risks to the fetus and child. And the use of drops for nail fungus during pregnancy is possible only under the supervision of a doctor.

Side effects of drops for nail fungus include short-term itching and burning sensation, as well as possible redness or peeling of the skin in the area of the treated nails.

The interaction of drops for nail fungus with other drugs is expressed in the fact that their therapeutic effect is increased with the complex treatment of this pathology using systemic antimycotics in tablets (ketoconazole, orungal, diflucan, etc.).

The form of release in the form of drops (or solutions), according to doctors, is quite practical for local treatment. However, in most cases, drops for nail fungus help only in the initial stages of the disease or with minor volumes of damage.

The main names of drops for nail fungus that are most effective in treating mycoses of this localization and are most often prescribed by doctors are: ciclopirox, bifonazole, exoderil.

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