Fungus between the toes is known to everyone, and some are familiar with it. But the majority of people are not even aware of the existence of a fungal nail infection. This is a dangerous disease that, in its advanced form, spreads throughout the body and affects internal organs. However, the initial stage of the fungus can be cured even with antifungal ointments, creams, and gels. In pharmacies you can see a wide selection of medicines that help heal and remove diseased nails. Each individual case has its own characteristics, so only a specialist can choose a method for eliminating the nail.
Indications for nail removal
Experts identify some indications for which it is necessary to remove a diseased nail:
- the patient experiences ingrowth of the plate into the finger;
- onychomycosis affects most of the nail;
- the patient experiences severe pain during movement and at rest;
- purulent exudate has accumulated under the nail plate;
- the affected nail causes psycho-emotional and physical discomfort.
The main cause of onychomycosis is various types of fungi that live on the human body. Suitable conditions for increased activity of such pathogens are heat, humidity and dirt. However, this disease can also be contracted at home if one of the family members has onychomycosis.
The following symptoms may indicate a fungal disease:
- itching, severe burning and peeling of the epidermis next to the plate;
- cracking of the skin between the toes and on the heels;
- splitting and crumbling of the nail;
- change in color of the affected nail and loss of shine;
As the fungal disease progresses to the final stage, pain occurs while walking and pus accumulates under the nail. In such a situation, they resort to removing the infected plate and use special preparations for this purpose. If the fungal disease has progressed to an advanced form, you should consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Why do you need to remove your nail?
Removal of the nail plate is prescribed as a last resort, when external medications and various complex therapy regimens have not given a positive result. External indications for such an operation may be:
- complete change of color of the nail plate;
- deformation and thickening that create a feeling of discomfort;
- peeling and brown coloration.
For some categories of patients, this is the only effective way to get rid of the infection. This may be in old age, when the body reacts poorly to external and oral drugs, patients with hypersensitivity to synthetic drugs, aggravated by various pathologies for which drug treatment is contraindicated.
Preparations for removing the nail plate
The modern pharmaceutical industry produces a large number of different creams and ointments for removing nails affected by fungus . However, experts do not recommend carrying out this procedure yourself, since it may not be entirely safe. The fact is that even the smallest nail has a protective function. It is possible to remove a nail using cream, gel and ointment, varnish with an antimycotic effect and a special patch.
It is possible to get rid of an inflamed nail plate on your own by using the following remedies:
- Mycospor and Nogtimycin. Both drugs are used in the treatment of onychomycosis according to a single regimen. Medicine is applied to the prepared and treated plate, a patch is glued on top, and gauze is wrapped. This compress is left for several days, after which the nail is removed and trimmed. In order to completely cope with the defect, 5 procedures are required.
- Nailitis. This medicine for removing nails affected by fungus has a pronounced antimycotic effect. A thick layer of cream is spread on the prepared plate without rubbing it in and secured with adhesive tape. This compress should be done for several days and care should be taken to ensure that the product does not get on healthy areas of the epidermis. After the allotted time, you need to remove the patch, rinse your feet with clean water and get rid of the softened part of the nail plate.
- Mycostop. This medicine is intended to remove the nail plate affected by onychomycosis. In addition to cream, the medicine can be purchased in the form of lotion, spray and paste. Mycostop is highly effective in combating various pathogenic microorganisms. In just a few applications, it is possible to remove infected areas of tissue. It is necessary to apply a cream to remove the nail affected by the fungus on the plate, place a cotton pad on top and seal it with a band-aid. After two days, the compress should be carefully removed.
In order to get rid of nail fungus, many patients resort to keratolytic patches. The consistency of the medicine resembles a plaster mass, which should be applied to the surface affected by the fungus. It is recommended to wear this patch for 1-2 days. Among the variety of such products, Onychoplast, Ureaplast and Uniplast patches are considered the most effective. If the process of pronounced destruction of the stratum corneum has begun, then removal of the nail affected by the fungus is carried out mechanically
Keratolytic patches
They are used if there are contraindications to the use of liniments. The most famous keratolytic patch for toenail fungus is Onychoplast. In addition, specialists prescribe Ureaplast and Fungiplast.
Removal of nails using keratolytic patches is carried out in the same way as in the case of Nogtivit. To begin with, the patient should steam the nails, dry them, and then cover the surrounding tissue with a bandage. Next, apply the mass and the patch. The process is repeated until the nail bed is free.
The price of the antifungal patch for removing the nail Onychoplast is 200-240 rubles, and Ureaplast and Fungiplast - from 100 to 400 rubles.
Preparing to remove the nail plate
Before applying the medicine Mykostop to remove a nail affected by fungus , you need to thoroughly steam the skin in a soda solution. This procedure allows you to disinfect the skin and soften the nail well. Afterwards, you need to thoroughly dry your feet and remove decorative varnish from the surface of the nail plate with acetone. It is recommended to thoroughly wipe the treatment area with a cotton pad soaked in Chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide.
A medicinal product for removing a nail affected by a fungus should be carefully applied to the prepared and cleaned plate and distributed over the entire surface. A gauze bandage should be placed on top of the treated fabric and secured with an adhesive plaster, which will prevent the cream from smearing around the nail.
It is recommended to carry out the procedure 2 times a day after taking foot baths. Throughout the entire period of fighting against onychomycosis with Mycostop cream, it is not allowed to apply cosmetic varnish to the nails.
After the treatment, the nail plate affected by the fungal pathogen should soften. Using a sterile manicure file or scraper, it should be carefully removed from the finger. If you cannot remove the plate, then under no circumstances should you tear it out by force. This can severely injure the bed and provoke additional infection into the resulting wound. In such a situation, it is recommended to re-treat the inflamed nail with Mycostop cream-paste and remove the remaining elements.
Even after it was possible to remove the plate affected by the fungus, it is not allowed to complete the treatment of onychomycosis. The fact is that after such a procedure, the pathogen still remains in the soft tissues.
For subsequent treatment of pathology and prevention of relapse, he recommends taking antifungal agents and treating the area of the removed nail with various local antifungal drugs. The duration of such treatment ranges from 7 to 15 days.
Mycostop
This is a synthetic antifungal liniment for systemic use and non-surgical removal of nail plates. An analogue of the drug is Nogtimycin 911 cream.
Release form and composition
The medicine is produced in the form of an ointment in tubes of 20 g. In addition, the drug is made in the form of tablets, spray, cream and lotion for the systemic treatment of fungal infections.
The main active ingredient of Mycostop is itraconazole. 1 g of the product contains 20 mg of the substance. The product also includes:
- urea;
- ethylcellulose;
- PEG-100 stearate;
- glycerol;
- glyceryl stearate;
- stearyl alcohol;
- octyldodecanol;
- isopropyl palmitate;
- toluene.
Contraindications and side effects
The use of nail remover cream for Mycostop fungus is not recommended if you are hypersensitive to the components of the medication. Also, the medicine should not be used on open wounds of the nail plates and nearby tissues.
Among the adverse reactions due to topical use of liniment, the most often noted are a burning sensation, itching and hyperemia of the skin. It is also possible to develop allergic reactions in patients with intolerance to the components of the product.
Instructions for use
You need to wrap several layers of adhesive tape around your fingernail. Next, 3 g of the product is applied to the plate, after which this area is covered with cotton wool and a bandage for 2 days.
After this period, the bandage is removed and the nail is steamed again. The peeled parts of the plate are removed using tweezers, a scraper or a regular nail file. The procedure must be carried out several times until the nail bed is completely cleansed.
Using Mycostop to remove fungus
What is the price
The cost of this product for removing a nail affected by fungus ranges from 250 to 520 rubles per 1 tube.
Post-procedure care
In order for the rehabilitation process to go quickly and without complications, it is necessary to follow some recommendations. After using the drug to remove nail fungus, you must:
- During the day, apply dressings several times and treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide;
- refuse to purchase tight, uncomfortable and poorly ventilated shoes made from low-quality materials;
- during the rehabilitation period, wear only cotton socks;
- reduce the number of walks during the day to a minimum;
- Maintain personal hygiene and accurately follow all doctor’s orders.
During the recovery period after using ointment to remove nail fungus, you should definitely visit a specialist who will monitor the healing process.
Contraindications for nail removal
A cream for removing nails affected by fungus , such as Mycostop, has no contraindications for its use. The drug does not provoke allergic reactions, therefore it can be used to combat onychomycosis even during pregnancy and childhood.
Experts say that when using ointment to remove a nail affected by fungus , there are usually no side effects. Only in rare situations may the patient feel a slight burning sensation under the treated plate. Such a reaction of the body to the constituent components of the drug is considered completely normal and does not serve as an indication to stop therapy.
Mycostop cream paste is well compatible with various medications with antifungal effects, since it does not contain chemical compounds. The use of the drug in the treatment of onychomycosis does not affect driving in any way and is almost not absorbed into the blood, which makes it possible to use it during breastfeeding.
Advantages and disadvantages
A well-performed operation completely removes the infected plate and creates conditions for its rapid replacement with a healthy plate. This kind of intervention:
- will not allow the pathogen to spread and infect healthy areas of the body;
- will avoid secondary bacterial infection;
- improve the effect of the external drug;
- accelerate the achievement of a positive effect.
Despite the obvious advantages, this treatment does not exclude disadvantages. Even such a radical method is not able to completely destroy the fungus without medication. The operation itself can be very painful and does not exclude infection during removal or in the postoperative period. The success of treatment largely depends on long-term and proper care.
Price and inexpensive analogues
Mycostop cream paste is considered one of the effective medicines that can be used to cope with nail fungus. The price of the medicine does not exceed 300 rubles and one such tube is enough to complete a full course of getting rid of fungus on the nail plates of the toes of both feet.
In the pharmacy you can buy analogues of the drug Mycostop, which are also effective in removing the affected nail. The most common among them are Fungiplast, Ureplast, Mycospor and Onychoplast.
Prevention of nail fungus
In order to avoid fungal disease, you must follow some rules. It is important to maintain personal hygiene to care for the skin of the feet. You should avoid injuries and microcracks on the legs, which can become an ideal environment for the spread of infection. If you have excessive sweating of the feet, it can be dealt with using special products, talcum powder and boric acid powder.
When visiting swimming pools, saunas and baths, you must wear rubber slippers. After washing your feet, you need to dry them, and change your socks and stockings every day. It is important to promptly treat any dystrophic changes in the toenails, since they are most susceptible to penetration by the infectious agent. Compliance with all the rules allows you to avoid the development of such an unpleasant disease as onychomycosis.
Reviews of preparations for removing the nail plate
Reviews about the ins and out cream for the treatment of nail fungus are mostly positive. Many patients consider drugs for removing nails affected by fungus to be the most effective and painless method of treatment. Some experts say that a means for removing a fungus-affected plate, such as Mycostop, is not the main method of eliminating pathology. With its help, it is possible to get rid of the affected nail and accelerate the growth of a new one. For more effective therapy, it is necessary to take antibiotics prescribed by a doctor simultaneously with the use of antifungal ointments.
Elena, 34 years old, Moscow: “About a year ago I encountered a disease such as onychomycosis. I managed to recover with the help of Clotrimazole ointment, but after a few months the nail plate began to turn yellow again and was completely cracked. I bought Mycostop cream paste at the pharmacy and with its help completely removed the diseased nail. My new healthy nail grew in 4 months, and I completely forgot about my problem.
Irina. 56 years old, Krasnodar: “For a long time I did not seek medical help with a disease such as nail fungus. As a result, it got to the point where the nail on the big toe completely peeled off and the specialist said that it would have to be removed. He suggested that I do this surgically or with the help of a drug. He prescribed me Mycostop cream paste and told me how to use it. After completing the course of treatment, my healthy nail grew back completely.
Watch a video about nail fungus removal cream:
Treatment of advanced stages of fungus
Effective treatment of chronic fungus requires an integrated approach. At a severe stage of the disease, monotherapy is ineffective. External agents should be used together with tablets. In addition, it is advisable to use traditional medicine recipes.
Medicines for treating fungus
All medications for mycosis are divided into two groups: local and oral, taken orally.
Local preparations applied directly to the affected nail plate are available in the form of ointments, as well as creams and varnishes.
Effective products in this group:
- Batrafen is a varnish containing the active substance Ciclopirox, which is effective against 58 varieties of fungi. 3-month treatment regimen with the drug: 1st month varnish is applied every other day, 2nd month - 2 times a week, 3rd month, also subsequent months - once a week. Therapy continues for 6-12 months until the nail grows completely.
Read: Treatment of fungus on hands
Contraindications: allergies, pregnancy. Side effects are itching and swelling of the skin around the nail. Cost – from 2,200 rubles.
Unpacking Betrafen nail polish
- Loceryl is an antimycotic varnish that destroys more than 10 types of fungi. Active ingredient: Amorolfine. The varnish is applied 1-2 times a week until the nail grows.
Side effects include color changes and increased brittleness of the nail plate. Contraindications: childhood, lactation, allergic reactions to components. Price for Lotseryl - from 1350 rubles.
Loceryl - nail polish
- Demicten is an antifungal varnish for the treatment of nails and skin. Its active component is formic acid aldehyde, which is effective against many types of fungi. The product is applied to mycosis-infected areas on the arms and legs every day for a month, without skipping.
Side effects - itching, redness of the epidermis. Contraindications – pregnancy, lactation. Cost – from 250 rubles.
Nail polish “Demikten”
- Mikozan is an antimycotic serum consisting of plant components. Apply twice a day without skipping for 1 month.
Side effects - itchy skin. Contraindications – age under 4 years, pregnancy, lactation. Cost – from 900 rub.
Antifungal agent "Mikozan"
- Exoderil is a cream containing the active substance Naftifine. Helps cure yeast, as well as mold fungi, dermatophytes. Apply to the affected nail twice a day until recovery occurs.
Side effects are itchy skin. Contraindicated in children under 12 years of age. Cost – from 500 rub.
Exoderil - cream for external use
- Mycozoral is an ointment containing the antimycotic component Ketoconazole, effective against dermatophytes. Use twice a day until recovery.
Side effects - allergic reactions. Contraindications – the presence of cracks on the nails. Price – from 260 rub.
Mycozoral - ointment for external use
- Fundosil is a cream with zinc oxide and salicylic acid. It treats all types of fungi, removing the affected areas, and does not have an aggressive effect on healthy areas of the nail. Has an antiseptic effect. Apply twice a day until symptoms disappear. A compress is applied on top of the cream.
Side effects - itchy skin. Contraindications – pregnancy, lactation, allergies to components. Cost – from 100 rubles.
- Fukortsin is a solution with a disinfectant and antiseptic effect. Its other name is Castellani Liquid. It is very active against fungi. Eliminates all types of mycosis. Apply twice a day for 2 weeks. Then another antimycotic drug must be used for 2 weeks. Such courses alternate until the affected nail grows back.
Side effects - allergic reactions. Contraindications – pregnancy, lactation. Price – from 90 rub.
Solution "Fukortsin"
Other medications for mycosis are Oflomil, Amorolfine, Flamin varnishes, Zalain, Nizoral, Mifungar, Nitrofungin, Clotrimazole, Lamisil, Terbinafine creams and ointments.
All topical medications are applied according to the same scheme:
- Nails are cleaned and dried thoroughly.
- The nail plate is trimmed and filed as much as possible. To process each nail, you must use an individual tool, or thoroughly disinfect the file.
- The drug is applied regularly in strict accordance with the instructions.
Important!
The main thing is not to skip the application of the products, otherwise the fungus will no longer be susceptible to the active component of the medicine used, and the drug will have to be changed.
The second category of antifungal agents consists of tablets and intravenous solutions that destroy the fungus from the inside.
Read: Medical pedicure for nail fungus
Effective drugs in this category:
- Ketoconazole - tablets containing the active component Ketoconazole, which inhibits the development and destroys a number of varieties of fungi. The course of therapy is prescribed by the doctor.
Side effects - dermatitis, weakness, nausea. Contraindications – liver disease, pregnancy, lactation. Children under 3 years of age are not prescribed. Price – from 130 rub.
Ketoconazole tablets
- Itraconazole - tablets with the active component Itracon, effective against yeast fungi, as well as dermatophytes. The dose and duration of drug treatment are prescribed individually.
Contraindications – heart disease, allergic reactions, pregnancy, lactation. Side effects - blurred vision, flatulence, headaches. Cost – from 350 rubles.
Antifungal tablets "Itraconazole"
- Fluconazole is a tablet containing the active ingredient Fluconazole. Take 150 mg once a week until complete recovery.
Contraindications – allergies, age under 6 years, pregnancy, lactation. Side effects - diarrhea, dizziness, weakness, dermatitis. Cost – from 40 rubles.
Fluconazole – 1 capsule 150 mg
- Mikomax - antimycotic drops containing Fluconazole. Prescribed by a doctor for severe forms of candidomycosis and cryptococcosis. It is administered intravenously for 6-8 weeks once a day, 200-400 ml.
Contraindications: kidney disease, pregnancy, lactation. Side effects - dermatitis, nausea, headaches. Cost – from 560 rubles.
Mycomax – 3 capsules 150 mg
Other effective antifungal tablets are Atifin, Intraconazole, Flucostat, Termicon, Rumikoz, Mikosist, Forkan, Onychon, Exifin.
Antimycotic therapy involves the mandatory use of restorative drugs that activate the immune system. This helps speed up the healing process and also minimize the risk of relapse.
Procedures for treating advanced stages of fungus
In the treatment of onychomycosis, not only medications, but also procedures are effective. Removal of the infected nail plate is very popular.
You can do this in 3 ways:
- Removal using special means, the application of which provokes peeling of the nail plate. It takes 3-4 procedures for the nail to be completely removed. Effective remedies - Nogtevit, Nogtemitsin.
- Mechanical removal is performed using special equipment by a qualified doctor. It has many attachments of different hardness and diameters at its disposal, which thoroughly clean the nail bed. Price – from 1,500 rubles.
- Surgical removal is the most radical method of getting rid of an infected nail plate. It is performed by a doctor under local anesthesia. After this, dressings should be done daily for 7-10 days. Price – from 2,500 rubles.
Treatment of nail fungus with laser is gaining popularity in modern medicine
Modern medicine provides the best laser treatment for advanced fungus. This procedure is performed in a hospital. The doctor exposes the affected nails to a laser. It penetrates very deeply. Due to the high temperature, the fungus dies. In this case, healthy areas of the nail plate are not damaged.
To completely get rid of advanced mycosis, 1-8 procedures will be required.
Laser treatment is effective, safe and painless. However, there are contraindications to it. The main ones are oncology, epilepsy, diseases of the skin and endocrine system, and pregnancy. The cost of laser treatment depends on the area of the lesion. It varies from 1,500 to 4,500 rubles. per session.
Read: Which doctor treats nail fungus
Folk remedies for the treatment of nail fungus
It is impossible to cure the advanced stage of mycosis on your own without consulting a doctor. But at home it is advisable to use folk remedies.
Let's look at the best recipes:
- Hydrogen peroxide is a good antiseptic that disinfects the nail but does not kill the fungus. Compresses with peroxide should be used as an addition to the main treatment. This is how they do it: a cotton swab is soaked in peroxide and then applied to the infected nail plate. It needs to be secured with a bandage or plaster for 40 minutes. After this, the nail should be dried and a medicinal product should be applied. The procedure is carried out twice a day. The interval between them is 12 hours. Repeat until recovery.
Baths of hydrogen peroxide and water are good for treating nail fungus
Foot baths made from 100 ml of peroxide dissolved in 2 liters of water are also effective. They need to be done daily for 25 minutes until complete recovery.
- Vinegar lotions – mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with the same amount of vodka, add 1 tablespoon of glycerin. Before applying the compress, nails should be washed with laundry soap and dried. Then soak a cotton swab in the composition and apply it to the nail plates for 15 minutes. Repeat the procedure 4 times in a row daily until recovery. Itching and pain should disappear after a week of regular compresses.
- Fir oil has a strong antiseptic effect. A compress of a cotton swab pre-soaked in oil is applied to the steamed nail. You need to keep the product for 30 minutes. The procedure is carried out daily until recovery.
- Iodine is used to prepare healing baths. Add 4-5 drops of iodine to a bowl of warm water and steam your legs or arms for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure daily until recovery. A solution of blue iodine with apple cider vinegar will also help cure mycosis. They are mixed in equal proportions and applied to the nails in the morning and evening using a cotton swab for 2 weeks.
- Propolis is suitable for preparing antifungal baths. To do this, add 1 teaspoon of propolis tincture (20%) to 1 liter of warm water. It is enough to hold a hand or foot with nails affected by mycosis in such a bath for 10 minutes. Propolis is applied to prepared nails. On top you need to wear socks or gloves, only cotton ones. Leave the product overnight. This procedure is carried out until recovery.
Among folk remedies for fungus, herbal infusions, decoctions and tinctures are widely used. More recipes can be found by following this link.
Propolis can also be used in antifungal baths
Traditional recipes will alleviate the patient’s condition, minimize discomfort and speed up the recovery process. More recipes in the material “Folk Remedies for Nail Fungus”.
