Antifungal agents for toenails and fingernails, effective and inexpensive

How to choose an effective remedy for nail fungus

Antifungal drugs have different compositions and individual indications.

Treatment of mycosis is a long process. Sometimes a dermatologist offers a choice of several options for drugs from the same pharmacological group. Considering the price of modern antifungal drugs, a course of treatment often costs a considerable amount.

Therefore, in some cases, it may be advisable, after consulting with a doctor, to select a cheaper analogue of the drug with the same active ingredient or similar in its pharmacological properties. In order not to make a mistake in choosing, it is worth taking into account patient reviews about the most popular drugs.

Pharmacy medicines for nail fungus are divided according to the method of application:

• external preparations intended for local treatment of affected surfaces (sprays, ointments, creams, varnishes);
• internal preparations have a systemic antimycotic effect on the entire body (capsules, tablets).

Before prescribing any drug, it is necessary to know the causative agent of the disease.
There are many pathogenic species among fungi, and the exact cause of the disease will be determined by the doctor after taking an analysis. In advanced cases, analysis may show several pathogenic fungi, and each of them will need its own medicine.

How to determine if your nails are affected by fungus

Nail fungus is characterized by inflammation, pain and swelling of the finger, as well as yellowing and crumbling of the nail itself. Nails appear deformed with inflamed skin and a periungual ridge. There is delamination and brittleness of the nail, the fingers look unkempt. In advanced cases, tissue begins to die and expose the nail bed.

Which drops are cheaper?

Important! Currently, the cost of medications in pharmacies varies, and sometimes this difference is significant. Let's look at the table to see which antimycotic drops are cheaper, but are not inferior in popularity to their more expensive counterparts.

When choosing drops for nail fungus, it is not enough to focus only on cost. The spectrum of action of various antimycotics may be different, so they should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the causative agent of the disease.

What groups of antifungal agents exist for nail fungus?

Among mycoses there are intractable diseases with a tendency to relapse. If you violate the treatment regimen and stop the course as soon as the visible symptoms of the disease disappear, the lesion will return in an even more complex form and it will be much more difficult to get rid of it.

When treated with any drug, even the most expensive, you cannot get by with just a single pill, nail fungus requires time and patience.

It is not advisable to self-medicate; at the first sign of nail fungus, you should visit a dermatologist.

Nail polish

Varnishes are used as an effective independent antifungal agent, and as part of a complex of medications. The varnishes are popular among doctors and patients due to their ease of use. The applied varnish hardens over time and forms a hard film.

If your fingernails are affected, medicated varnish is the best solution. Hands are subject to frequent temperature changes and constant contact with water and air. The varnish does not wear off upon first contact with clothing or shoes, like other preparations. The long-lasting product lasts for a long period of time. It provides constant protection of the infected surface from external irritants.

Due to its structure, the liquid penetrates into microcracks, into every hole and fills the deep layers of keratinized skin. When hardened, the varnish creates a dense coating through which air does not enter. Without the necessary oxygen, the fungal bacteria die.

Oils and additional components have an antiseptic effect and destroy fungal formations. The effect is aimed exclusively at nails; for skin treatment, choose other dosage forms. Unlike other drugs, varnishes are effective throughout the whole day.

Means of this type are used at any stage of mycosis, regardless of the degree of damage. Before the first application, the nail must be prepared: the entire free edge is cut off, filed “to zero”, and the most damaged areas are cleaned with a file from above. After preparation, disinfect and degrease the nail plate with alcohol.

After preparation, a pre-selected and prepared product is applied. The frequency of use and further plan of use are determined strictly individually, based on the condition of the plate and the characteristics of the patient.

The most well-known and effective anti-fungal drugs in this form of release:

• Belvedere is excellent for fighting fungus, even at advanced stages it shows good results.
• Mikozan - eliminates nail fungus and its consequences, is considered one of the most powerful medicines.
• Demicten is a varnish that can be used together with creams and ointments, and is particularly effective in treating extensive damage.
• Loceryl - actively fights fungal infections, eliminates unpleasant odors and stops the proliferation of bacteria.

Azole group

Antimycotic agents based on the active ingredients imidazoles and triazoles have a double effect:

• fungicidal - destroys the cells of the pathogen;
• fungistatic - destroy fungal spores and prevent them from reproducing.

This group includes the following drugs:

• Ketoconazole;
• Clotrimazole;
• Miconazole;
• Nizoral;
• Itraconazole;
• Fluconazole and analogs.

These products show good activity against yeast, mold and yeast-like fungi. Azole group drugs are available in different forms: for oral administration - tablets and capsules, external forms - ointments, creams, varnishes, solutions.

Capsules and tablets are taken as prescribed by the attending physician according to the recommended regimen. Usually this is a continuous course, but another treatment regimen is possible, scheduled for several months (up to six months) while healthy nails grow. Ointments and creams are rubbed into the affected nail plates several times a day.

Before treatment, you first need to trim your nails at the root and make a soda-soap bath for your feet.

Fluconazole and its analogues

The most commonly used drug in this group is Fluconazole. It has broad antifungal activity and is suitable for the systemic treatment of mycosis. In case of fungal infection of the toenails, its use in combination with topical medications is most effective.

When taking Fluconazole, it is necessary to observe the dosage and take into account possible contraindications in each individual case. One course of the drug in combination with local treatment often leads to recovery. This inexpensive medicine has analogues: Diflucan, Flucostat, Mikosist. The manufacturer uses the same active ingredient, but the cost may vary by 3-10 times.

Systemic antifungal antibiotics

There is quite a wide variety of antifungal antibiotics today. They are used in especially severe cases of chronic fungal infections, in complex antifungal therapy along with topical drugs. Antibiotics are tablets for oral use. Their purpose is to treat fungal infections of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes. The choice of drug depends on the nature of the disease, on what fungus it is caused by. The following antifungal antibiotics are most often used in the treatment of fungus:

• Ketoconazole and its analogues - Nizoral, Fungavis, Mycozoral, Oronazole;
• Itraconazole and its analogues - Oruniom, Rumikoz, Kanditral, Orungal, Itrazol;
• Terbinafine and its analogues - Lamisil, Terbinox, Terbizil, Exitern;
• Griseofulvin.

Self-use of antibiotics is fraught with various consequences. Therefore, they should be taken only under the supervision of a specialist who will determine the principle of treatment and dosage of the drug. In some situations, so-called pulse therapy with antibiotics is recommended, that is, taking large doses of the drug in a very short period of time.

Allylamine group

This group of antimycotics includes drugs:

• Naftifin,
• Butenafine,
• Lamisil,
• Terbinafine,
• Exoderil and other similar products.

Lamisil is one of the most popular creams for nail fungus, especially effective in the early stages of mycosis. The drug is rubbed into the nails and infected skin twice a day for 2-3 weeks, without stopping treatment after the itching and burning disappears. The course must be completed, otherwise a relapse is inevitable. For severe nail lesions, tablets are added to the local medicine.

Medicines based on allylamines quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of fungal nail infections: burning and itching. The active substance is active against fungi of the genus Candida, dermatophytes, as well as molds; the pathogen is destroyed by destroying the membrane of their cells.

The course of treatment usually lasts several months: from six months.

Creams and sprays are applied to affected nails 1-2 times a day after hygiene procedures: cutting nails, soap bath, thorough drying.

For local treatment, it makes sense to use drugs from the allylamine group if the pathogen affects less than half the surface of the nail plates and the matrix is ​​not affected. Otherwise, systemic tablets are indicated to destroy the infection.

The medicine must be rubbed into the surface, touching the surrounding skin.

Side effects

When applying antimycotic drops topically, the following adverse reactions most often develop:

• itching, burning;
• redness, swelling;

• physical discomfort;
• peeling, dry skin.

These symptoms may be the cause of reversible side effects that go away on their own without the use of any auxiliary agents. Less often, they signal an allergy - in this case, further therapy with the drug is contraindicated.

Morpholine group

Medicines from the morpholine group contain amorolfine as the main active ingredient. The most convenient form of the drug from this group is considered to be varnish.

The varnish is applied to the affected nails and does not wear off for 1-2 weeks; a new layer is regularly applied to the old one.

Before coating, the affected surface of the nails must be steamed, dried well and degreased. When treating nails with anti-fungal varnish, be sure to adhere to strict hygiene measures: use only a disposable file, disinfect the spatula.

Preparations from the morpholine group show good effectiveness against a variety of types of fungi, penetrate the nail plate and quickly begin to act. Until the nails are completely restored, the course of treatment can last 9-12 months.

Preparing to use the drops

When using external medications for onychomycosis, it is important to follow the recommendations listed below:

1. A special file is usually sold along with antifungal drops, with which you can easily clean the nail plates of excess stratum corneum after preliminary steaming. This must be done carefully so as not to damage nearby healthy tissue areas and spread the infection. Also, do not use this file on nails that are not affected by the disease.
2. Having completed the so-called manicure, the nail plates are additionally degreased with a cotton swab dipped in an alcohol solution.

1. Apply drops to clean and dry nails using a special spatula included in the kit or a dropper bottle. Then the product is gently rubbed into the plate. You need to wait about 5 minutes until it is completely absorbed by her tissues.
2. Close the bottle and put it in a dark place until the next treatment.

Effective remedies for nail fungus

Drugs that do not belong to the main groups of antimycotics have good antifungal activity:

1. Mikozan ointment is a plant-based serum with an active ingredient based on rye extract. The minimum course of treatment with ointment is 1 month. The drug can be used in the initial stages of the disease as an independent medicine for nail fungus at home; in advanced cases, it is most often prescribed as an auxiliary one. You need to rub the medicine in regularly 2 times a day, cleaning the affected plates with a disposable nail file. The advantage of this serum over varnish is that it is invisible on the nails.
2. Batrafen varnish is another drug from the pharmacy that is effective in the early stages of infection. The active ingredient is ciclopirox. The varnish must be renewed in a timely manner over several weeks, since in order to maintain the necessary therapeutic effect it must constantly cover the damaged surface. Before treating your nails, they need to be cut short.

Which drops are most effective?

The best and most effective drops against fungus (regardless of whether they are expensive or not) should have the following therapeutic characteristics:

1. Destroy pathogenic microflora and disinfect cells affected by infection.
2. Prevent the spread of the disease to neighboring tissues.

Only such a formula, combining fungicidal and fungistatic effects, can rightfully be considered the most effective.

Preparations based on the following active ingredients meet exactly these requirements:

• naftifine;
• amorolfine;
• imidazole;
• terbinafine

Preparations created on the basis of these components are considered the most effective in dermatology.