Dermatologists and mycologists try not to use formal approaches to the treatment of fungus, which consist of the standard prescription of ointments and tablets and lead to the chronic course of fungal infections and the development of serious complications that reduce the quality of life:
- fungal eczema.
- Persistent hair loss.
- Destruction of the nail plates and scarring of the nail bed.
- Chronic inflammation of the glans penis and vagina, which constantly bothers men and women and makes sexual life impossible.
A method of completely getting rid of a fungal disease, which helps to achieve the following goals:
- Destruction of pathogenic fungi in the focus of skin lesions.
- Protection of healthy skin (nails, mucous membranes) from the spread of mycoses.
- Relapse prevention.
- Restoration of the normal structure of the skin, hair and mucous membranes, maintaining their elasticity and beauty.
- Removal from the body of the waste products of the fungus, which cause chronic intoxication and allergization.
- Restore the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs to normalize sexual life.
It would seem that all this is logical and as it should be. But in practice, dermatologists very rarely adhere to all the rules for the treatment of fungal diseases, often limiting themselves to external therapy. Yes, and many patients just want to "anoint something" instead of undergoing a full treatment.
What diseases are treated at the clinic:
- Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the fingernails and toenails.
- Fungal lesions of the skin of the foot, hand.
- Smooth skin fungus.
- Fungal diseases of the inguinal, axillary folds, under the mammary glands, intergluteal folds.
- Pityriasis versicolor.
- Scalp fungus, dandruff.
- The fungus that causes seborrheic dermatitis.
- Candidiasis, candidiasis of the penis and vagina.
- fungal prostatitis.
- Candidiasis of the oral mucosa and tongue.
- Fungal diseases of the external ear.
Treatment of the fungus, of course, depends on its type and localization of the process. Let us highlight the general stages of therapy:
- Mandatory analysis of scrapings for a fungus with determination, if possible, of its type, sensitivity to drugs, quantity.
- Blood, biochemical and immune system status tests.
- Removal of the affected area of the nail plate, hair with a laser, hardware or surgically.
- Pharmacological therapy: Antifungal medication intravenously or in tablet form. It lasts from 10 days to 4 months (with onychomycosis). Antifungal injection has proven to be the best and allows to reduce the duration of treatment of a fungal disease and reduce the impact on the liver. External treatment with antifungal ointments, creams and solutions in a certain sequence. Preparations that enhance the growth of nail plates, hair, restoring the integumentary epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes. Local treatment in the form of baths on the penis and in the vagina, restoration of the normal microflora of the genitals with a fungal disease of the genital organs. Immune therapy and elimination of fungal toxins and allergens.
- Physiotherapy: ultraviolet irradiation with medical quartz, treatment of affected areas with infrared or ultrasonic laser.
- And in the end, fungal control tests.
The treatment of fungal diseases may seem too time-consuming and complicated. That's right, but only for a doctor! Treatment regimens are designed in such a way that the patient does not notice much discomfort during therapy and everything is quite easy for him.
The treatment of fungus on the skin usually does not take time and lasts between 10 and 20 days. The hair and nail treatment is longer and lasts for several months.
But it's not even about the duration of therapy. Treatment of fungal diseases should be carried out by a professional, a dermatovenereologist, a mycologist who is familiar with all the methods listed above and actively applies them in practice. Specialists in this area are receiving in clinics daily.
foot fungus treatment
The treatment of foot fungus has been carried out in conjunction with the therapy of other fungal diseases for more than 13 years.
The method of treating fungus of the skin of the foot, developed and used in the clinic, has long proven its effectiveness, despite the known difficulties in the treatment of fungal diseases.
What do patients who have completed a full course with a diagnosis of foot mycosis receive as a result?
- Complete destruction of the pathogenic fungus on the soles of the feet, in the interdigital spaces, on the back of the foot, in the thickness of the nail plates.
- Elimination of itching and unpleasant foot odor.
- Healing of cracks and inflammatory changes in the skin of the foot.
- Restoration of skin elasticity, elimination of hyperkeratosis - thickening of the skin on the sole of the foot, especially in the heel area.
- Elimination of excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis of the feet.
- Healthy nail growth.
That is, if at the initial appointment, the dermatovenereologist, mycologist and the patient himself see a picture of thickened soles, with cracks, exfoliated epithelium between the toes, congestive reddening of the skin of the foot, constantly wet shoes and socks, and crooked. , darkened nails, after a full course of fungal therapy on the feet, there is a pleasant feeling of comfort in this part of the body, the skin becomes smooth, the smell disappears, and the nails are gradually restored.
Treatment steps for foot fungus
- The diagnostic stage includes the study of scrapings from the skin and nail plates for a pathogenic fungus with the determination of the pathogenic group, which is important in choosing an antifungal drug. To complete the picture, information is needed on changes in the patient's metabolism, which may be the main cause of excessive sweating of the skin of the feet and a decrease in local resistance to fungal infection. This is where blood tests help us.
- The treatment of mycosis of the feet itself is carried out in several stages, which depend on the initial clinical picture and the type of fungus. Removal of thick keratinized layers of skin and affected areas of the nail plates. This is achieved with the help of special ointments, procedures or hardware and laser removal of pathological areas. The duration of the stage is from 1 to 7 days. When the skin has cleared, external antifungal therapy may be used that delivers the medication directly to the skin of the foot.
- Systemic-acting antifungals, that is, antifungal drugs administered by injection or in tablets. Of course, the intravenous drip of such drugs proved to be more effective. In addition, it turned out to be safer for the liver and reduced the duration of treatment, which is from 7 to 14 days for skin lesions and up to 4 months in combination with nail lesions.
- Physiotherapy treatment of foot fungus includes exposure to medical ultraviolet radiation, which has a detrimental effect on foot fungus, and infrared laser therapy, which further improves blood supply to affected areas It accelerates the recovery of the skin and the growth of the nails. The duration of the procedure is from 3 to 10 minutes.
- If, as a result of the diagnosis, problems with the internal organs, lack of microelements and other substances necessary for the supply of antifungal drugs to the skin, for skin regeneration, to activate the fight against the pathogenic fungus are identified. , then additional auxiliary drugs are prescribed to correct these changes: immunomodulators, ozone therapy, vitamins, hepatoprotectors, iron, calcium and vitamin complexes with microelements.
- Excessive sweating and odor often go away with this foot fungus treatment. But sometimes it is necessary to prescribe medications that block the sweat glands of the skin of the foot, conduct laser therapy sessions and cryomassage with liquid nitrogen.
- After treatment, it is necessary to check whether the foot fungus has been destroyed. Repeated analysis of scrapings for fungus is done. But usually the result is close to 100%.
A very important step in the treatment of foot fungus is the appointment of subsequent relapse prevention, which includes skin care products and treatment of shoes in which spores of the fungus could remain.
Treatment of foot fungus is very diverse. It is impossible to describe all therapy options in one article. The doctors of the dermatovenereologists of the clinic, after an examination and based on the results of laboratory diagnoses, will be able to determine the most appropriate technique in your particular case of fungus on the skin of the foot and carry out a complete treatment.
Nail fungus treatment
The treatment of nail fungus is one of the main areas of clinical work in specialized centers, for the development of which specialists address each stage of onychomycosis therapy in detail.
It has long been known that the treatment of fungal diseases is a serious problem, even more serious than the treatment of bacterial infections. Uncontrolled use of various antifungal ointments, tablets, solutions and varnishes has led to the growth of a large number of drug-resistant fungi. And the number of these drugs is very limited, unlike antibiotics. Therefore, in order to achieve the maximum effect in the treatment of patients, we had to use a scientific and practical approach in the treatment of toenail and fingernail fungus, and not limit ourselves to the formal prescription of external therapy. for onychomycosis.
What results you will see after a full course:
- Restoration of the color and structure of the nail plate.
- Normalization of nail growth and its shape.
- The disappearance of nail fungus, confirmed by laboratory.
- Bad odors and excessive sweating of the feet will disappear.
- The inflammatory process of the skin of the periungual ridges, interdigital spaces and soles of the feet or palms of the hands will disappear. That is, redness, itching, peeling, weeping caused by a fungal disease will disappear.
Treatment of nail fungus on the hands lasts 2-3 months, on the legs up to 3-4 months. But everything, of course, is individual and depends on the type of pathogenic fungus, the rate of nail growth in a given person, the presence of concomitant pathology of internal organs and blood vessels. For example, in diseases of the veins or arteries of the lower extremities, when the supply of drugs and nutrients to the nail is interrupted, the treatment time is much longer and the result is very difficult to achieve.
Cure control is carried out with a fungus of the nails of the hands at 6 months, with mycosis of the nails of the feet at the end of 1 year.
The clinic employs dermatovenerologists who are trained in all nail removal methods and professionally select the optimal treatment for each individual patient diagnosed with fingernail and toenail fungus.
How is nail fungus treated in the clinic?
Nail mycosis is a chronic disease, so treatment has several stages and is always preceded by a detailed diagnosis that reveals the type of fungus and the possibility of complex treatment, which, unfortunately, cannot be prescribed to everyone. the world.
Treatment steps for nail fungus:
- Appointment with the mycologist.
- Diagnostics.
- Direct deal.
At the initial appointment, the doctor will assess the damage to the nail plates and the surrounding skin, if it is also involved in the pathological process, which is often the case. He will examine other areas of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, because there are cases in which a patient is referred for suspected fungi, and in the end the diagnosis sounds like onychodystrophy, that is, the symptoms are similar to the disease, but without an infectious agent. It is associated with metabolic disorders, hormonal levels, chronic skin diseases and lesions of the matrix and nail bed.
Next, a plan of diagnostic measures is drawn up, particles are taken from the nail plates and blood for examination.
Diagnosis of onychomycosis of fingers and toes
| Do not. | Analysis | Goal | Execution period |
|---|---|---|---|
| one. | Scraping of nail plates and nail bed for fungus | Determination of the type of fungus to select the most effective drug | 1–3 days |
| two. | sowing mushrooms | Determination of the type of fungus and its sensitivity to antifungal drugs | 7–10 days |
| 3. | PCR diagnosis for Candida | Identification of mycoses caused by yeast fungi | 1–2 days |
| Four. | blood chemistry | Determination of liver and kidney function status when planning systemic antifungal therapy. It is also possible to detect metabolic disorders that led to a change in the nails. | 1 day |
| 5. | Hospital complex (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis, coagulogram) | If you plan to remove the nail plates or the affected part of the nails | 1 day |
Here is a complete list of the main diagnostic measures, but a mycologist does not assign all these studies to all people. In superficial forms, for example, when it is not necessary to remove plaques and prescribe oral or drip antifungal drugs, blood tests are not necessary.
Cultures are also performed very rarely due to their low sensitivity.
Therefore, those who treat toenail or fingernail fungus should always consult a dermatologist or mycologist first, and then start taking tests, smearing ointments and taking pills, and not the other way around.
Of great importance is also the correct sampling of material from the affected areas to identify the fungus. Its detection in a particular patient depends on this by 90%. Not only the hard parts of the nail plate are taken for research, but also the loose mass of the nail bed, which contains the maximum amount of the pathogen.
But even with this approach, the laboratory does not always immediately determine the presence of a fungal infection.
With obvious signs of onychomycosis, the analysis is repeated three times with negative results.
So, the diagnosis was made, the fungus was detected, its type was identified, the condition of the internal organs was examined, and therapy was started.
Treatment of nail fungus by a mycologist.
Everything here depends on the clinical situation. Superficial forms of mycoses can be cured through the use of external agents such as varnishes, solutions containing drugs that are harmful to fungi, and laser processing of plates. Total nail lesions require removal of the affected areas and the administration of drugs orally or intravenously.
We will consider the stages of treatment of an advanced form of toenail fungus, because this is the most difficult stage of onychomycosis to treat with drugs.
Removal of the nail or part of the nail plate affected by the fungus.
As a result, we will immediately rid the body of a large accumulation of fungus and make the nail bed accessible to the penetration of medicinal substances to destroy the microbe that remains in it. It also reduces the absorption of fungal waste products into the blood, thus reducing allergic and toxic effects in humans.
There are several methods to remove plaques affected by mycosis. The choice depends on the clinical situation and which doctor treats the nail fungus in this patient, which technique he possesses more professionally:
| Do not. | Methodology | How is it done | Advantages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| one. | Hardware Nail Removal | It is used more frequently. The affected part of the nail surface is sawn with a special cutter to the nail bed and posterior periungual ridge. | Security minimal discomfort The patient does not lose work capacity |
1000–1500 rubles |
| two. | surgical removal | After conducting anesthesia of the finger, the nail plate is completely or partially removed, if necessary. An antibacterial dressing is applied. | The most "clean" removal of the affected nail, when the fungus is removed, even under the ridges of the nails, the nail bed is removed from the fungal layers. Plastic surgery of a curved nail bed is possible. | From 2500 rub. |
| 3. | laser nail removal | Anesthesia of the treated finger is also performed. The laser beam burns the area of the nail affected by the fungus with the capture of the nail bed | Maximum removal of fungal masses, but no penetration under the rear roller | From 3000 rub. |
The hardware technique is used more often, because it gives a minimum number of complications, does not damage the growth zone and the nail bed, is affordable, but requires more frequent cleaning of the nail beds, since it does not provide complete sanitation of the fungus finger.
After surgical or laser removal, of course, the amount of fungus remaining is minimal, but the length of the recovery period, possible disability, and dressings limit the use of these methods in some patients.
Destruction of the fungus by external means.
On the nail bed cleaned as a result of the removal of the nail plate, antifungal solutions are applied daily for several months until the growth of a normal nail and a negative analysis for fungus. It is also possible to add antifungal varnishes to the growing edge of the nail plate.
The use of systemic oral and intravenous antifungal drugs.. This is the main stage of treatment after nail removal.
It is necessary to ensure the delivery of drugs to the nail matrix, from which a new nail grows, and to the nail bed with blood flow.
Based on the tests, the doctor will select a drug that is suitable for this patient, as well as the method of administration.
The type of fungus, the state of the liver and kidneys, and comfort for the patient are taken into account.
For the liver, intravenous administration of drugs that enter the blood and nails, bypassing the intestines and liver, respectively, is the safest.
Treatment is carried out for up to 3-4 months with lesions on the feet and 2-3 months if the fungus is on the hands.
There are several treatment regimens for nail fungus, including daily medication and intermittent courses.
At least once a month, a blood test is performed for liver and kidney indicators. If it deviates from the norm, the treatment is stopped.
- Physiotherapy in the treatment of nail fungus - helps to destroy the infection and improves the administration of drugs, accelerates the growth of the nail plate. UV radiation from the nail bed has a detrimental effect on the fungus. 10-15 sessions of 3-5 minutes. Infrared laser - improves blood flow in the area of the growth zone and the nail bed, which ensures better administration of drugs to the affected area and acceleration of the growth of a new plate impregnated with an antimycotic. Electrophoresis of antifungal drugs is the creation of the maximum possible concentration of drugs directly at the focus of the pathological process.
- Regular hardware cleaning of the nail bed from layers of hyperkeratosis and fungal residue. For patients with fungal nail disease, it is important to imagine the entire treatment process and understand that this is a fairly long-term event, the success of which largely depends not only on the doctor treating nail fungus, but also of themselves. It is important to regularly take medications and apply antifungal solutions, regularly treat shoes, adhere to the schedule of physiotherapy procedures, and clean the nail bed.
What doctor treats nail fungus?
Nail fungus is a serious problem. Everyone who has faced the defeat of nail plates with mycoses knows this. It is treated for a long time, far from always with a good effect, and the use of various ointments, creams and solutions in almost 95% of cases does not bring any results.
But in fact, not everything is so sad if you know which specialist to contact for nail fungus. And then success is guaranteed even when it comes to onychomycosis.
A doctor who treats nail fungus is a mycologist or dermatologist who has experience in managing this type of patient.
Why experience is important, and not just theoretical knowledge. The fact is that the therapy of a fungal infection that affects the nail plates lasts more than a month. The result is not immediately visible, it can be very difficult to assess the effectiveness. Nor is it easy to choose the full range of procedures and drugs for a particular patient, which differ in each clinical situation.
There is a lot of information on the Internet about antifungal drugs, various lasers, physical therapy methods, and nail removal. Patients, self-medicating, begin to buy one drug after another, and, not receiving a result, despair and stop all attempts to get rid of the fungus. The same thing happens when the treatment is prescribed by a doctor who has no experience in following up this type of patient.
The clinic serves a doctor who treats fungus on the legs and arms every day, there is also a fully equipped mycological room, in which all stages of diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis are carried out.
Which doctor treats nail fungus effectively?
- This is necessarily a dermatologist or mycologist.
- He has experience in the examination and treatment of nail mycoses.
- He knows how to remove the affected nail plates, clean the nail bed.
- Know the stages of systemic therapy of onychomycosis, introduction to the course of physiotherapy methods.
- You can change the tactics of treatment in time or add a procedure, a drug, with a weak effect of previously prescribed therapy.
- He has the ability to use all modern methods and equipment necessary in the clinic for the treatment of nail fungus.
Treatment of such mycoses is a planned procedure, not an emergency. Therefore, after examination, the doctor treating nail fungus explains to the patient all possible therapy options, but the choice always depends on the person himself.
The course, regardless of the choice of technique, is very long, and each patient must understand from the very beginning the effectiveness of each method:
Treatment of nail fungus with external methods (solutions, varnishes, ointments) - the effectiveness is less than 10%, that is, it helps only with initial superficial forms.
The use of an integrated approach, but without removing the affected areas of the nails, has up to 60% effectiveness.
Complex treatment with removal of the affected part of the nail plate and physiotherapy - efficiency up to 90-95%.
Usually, at the initial appointment, the doctor treating nail fungus tells the patient: If patients are ready to undergo a 3-4 month course of complex therapy for onychomycosis, then the success. If not, then it's better not to even start. Money, time will be spent, and the result will be doubtful. This is a disease that requires a long and pedantic approach to treatment by both the doctor and the patient, where even the smallest details are important.