Dermatologists and mycologists try not to use formal approaches to the treatment of fungus, which consist in 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 is constantly disturbing to 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 fungus in the focus of skin lesions.
- Protection of healthy skin (nails, mucous membranes) from the spread of mycosis.
- Prevention of relapse.
- Restoration of the normal structure of the skin, hair and mucous membranes while maintaining their elasticity and beauty.
- Removal from the body of the waste products of the fungus, which cause chronic intoxication and allergization.
- Restoring the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membrane of the genital organs to normalize sexual life.
It would seem that all this is logical and the way it should be. But in practice, very rarely, dermatologists 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 in the clinic:
- Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails of the hands and feet.
- Fungal lesions of the skin of the foot, hand.
- Smooth skin fungus.
- Fungal diseases of the folds of the inguinal, axillary, under the mammary glands, intergluteal folds.
- Pityriasis versicolor.
- Fungus of the scalp, dandruff.
- The fungus that causes seborrheic dermatitis.
- Candidiasis, thrush 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's single out the general stages of therapy:
- Mandatory analysis of scrapings for a fungus with a determination, if possible, of its type, sensitivity to drugs, quantity.
- Blood tests, biochemical and on the state of the immune system.
- Removal of the affected area of the nail plate, hair with a laser, hardware or surgically.
- Drug therapy: Antifungal drug intravenously or in the form of tablets. Lasts from 10 days to 4 months (with onychomycosis). Injection of antimycotics has proved to be the best and allows to reduce the duration of treatment of fungal disease and reduce the impact on the liver. External treatment with antifungal ointments, creams and solutions in a certain sequence. Preparations that improve 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 removal of fungal toxins and allergens.
- Physiotherapy: ultraviolet irradiation with medical quartz, treatment of affected areas with an infrared or ultrasonic laser.
- And in the end - control tests for mushrooms.
Treatment of fungal diseases may seem too time-consuming and complicated. So it is, 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 goes quite easily for him.
Treatment of skin fungus usually does not take time and is about 10-20 days. Treatment of hair and nails is longer and reaches several months.
But it's not even about the duration of therapy. The 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 along 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 proved its effectiveness, despite the well-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 odor from the feet.
- Healing of cracks and inflammatory changes in the skin of the foot.
- Restoration of skin elasticity, elimination of hyperkeratosis - thickening of the skin of the sole of the foot, especially in the heel area.
- Elimination of excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis of the feet.
- Growth of healthy nails.
That is, if at the initial appointment a dermatovenereologist, a mycologist and the patient himself see a picture of thickened soles, with cracks, exfoliated epithelium between the fingers, congestive redness of the skin of the foot, constantly wet shoes and socks, and twisted, darkened nails, then after a full course of therapy for the fungus, feet, there is a pleasant feeling of comfort in this part of the body, the skin becomes smooth, the smell disappears, 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 pathogen group, which is important for choosing an antifungal drug. To complete the picture, information is needed on changes in the patient's metabolism, which can be the root 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 keratinized thick 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, it becomes possible to use an external antifungal therapy that delivers the drug directly to the skin of the foot.
- Systemic antimycotics, that is, antifungal drugs administered by injection or in tablets. Of course, intravenous drip of such drugs proved to be more effective. Moreover, it turned out to be safer for the liver and reduced the duration of treatment, which is 7-14 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 the affected areas, accelerates skin recovery and nail growth. The duration of the procedure is from 3 to 10 minutes.
- If, as a result of the diagnosis, problems with internal organs, a lack of microelements and other substances necessary for the delivery of antifungal drugs to the skin, for the regeneration of the skin, to activate the fight against the pathogenic fungus are revealed, 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 disappear with this foot fungus treatment. But sometimes it is necessary to prescribe drugs that block the sweat glands of the skin of the foot, to conduct sessions of laser therapy and cryomassage with liquid nitrogen.
- After the treatment, it is necessary to check whether the fungus on the feet has been destroyed. Repeated analyzes of scrapings for fungi are carried out. But usually the result is close to 100%.
A very important step in the treatment of foot fungus is the appointment of subsequent prevention of relapses, which includes skin care products and the treatment of shoes on which spores of the fungus could remain.
Treatment of foot fungus is very diverse. It is impossible to describe all the therapy options in one article. Doctors of the dermatovenereologists of the clinic, upon examination and based on the results of laboratory diagnostics, will be able to determine the most appropriate technique in your particular case of foot skin fungus and conduct a full-fledged treatment.
Nail fungus treatment
Treatment of nail fungus is one of the main areas of clinical work in specialized centers, for the development of which specialists approach 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. The uncontrolled use of various antifungal ointments, tablets, solutions, varnishes has led to the growth of a huge number of drug-resistant fungi. And the number of these drugs is very limited, unlike antibiotics. Therefore, in order to achieve the maximum effect of treating patients, we had to use a scientific and practical approach in the treatment of toenail and handnail fungus, and not be limited to the formal prescription of external therapy for onychomycosis.
What results will you see after a full-fledged 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.
- Unpleasant odor and excessive sweating of the feet will disappear.
- The inflammatory process of the skin of the periungual ridges, interdigital spaces and the soles of the feet or palms of the hands will go away. 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 delivery of drugs and nutrients to the nail is disrupted, the treatment time is much longer and the result is very difficult to achieve.
The control of cure is carried out with a fungus of the nails of the hands after 6 months, with mycosis of the nails of the feet after 1 year.
The clinic employs dermatovenerologists who are trained in all methods of nail removal and professionally select the optimal course of therapy for each individual patient diagnosed with nail fungus on the hands and feet.
How is nail fungus treated in the clinic
Mycosis of the nails is a chronic disease, so the treatment has several stages and it is always preceded by a detailed diagnosis that reveals the type of fungus and the possibility of complex treatment, which, unfortunately, can not be prescribed to everyone.
Treatment steps for nail fungus:
- Mycologist appointment.
- Diagnostics.
- Direct treatment.
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 when a patient is referred for suspected fungus, 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 injuries of the nail matrix and bed.
Next, a plan of diagnostic measures is drawn up, particles of the nail plates and blood are taken for examination.
Diagnosis of onychomycosis of fingers and toes
| No. | Analysis | Target | Period of execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| one. | Scraping from nail plates and nail bed for mushrooms | Determining the type of fungus to select the most effective drug | 1–3 days |
| 2. | Seeding for mushrooms | Determining the type of fungus and its sensitivity to antifungal drugs | 7–10 days |
| 3. | PCR diagnostics for Candida | Identification of mycosis caused by yeast-like fungi | 1–2 days |
| 4. | Blood chemistry | Determination of the state of liver and kidney function when planning systemic antimycotic therapy. It is also possible to identify metabolic disorders, which 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 not every person is assigned all these studies by a mycologist. In superficial forms, for example, when there is no need to remove the plates and prescribe antifungal drugs orally or drip, there is no need to conduct blood tests.
Crops are also performed quite rarely due to their low sensitivity.
Therefore, those who treat toenail or handnail fungus should always first consult a dermatologist or mycologist, and then start taking tests, smearing ointments and drinking pills, and not vice versa.
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 from 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 mycotic 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 began.
Treatment of nail fungus by a mycologist
Everything here depends on the clinical situation. Superficial forms of mycosis can be cured by using external agents such as varnishes, solutions containing drugs that are harmful to fungi, and laser processing of plates. Total lesions of the nails require the 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 be treated with medication.
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 huge accumulation of the fungus and make the nail bed accessible to the penetration of medicinal substances into it in order to destroy the microbe remaining in it. It also reduces the absorption of fungal waste products into the blood, reducing the allergic and toxic effects on humans.
There are several methods for removing plates affected by mycosis. The choice depends on the clinical situation and on which doctor treats the nail fungus in this patient, what technique he owns most professionally:
| No. | Methodology | How is it carried out | Advantages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| one. | Hardware nail removal | Used most frequently. The affected part of the nail plate is sawn with a special cutter to the nail bed and the posterior periungual ridge | Security Minimum discomfort The patient does not lose working capacity |
1000–1500 rubles |
| 2. | Surgical removal | After conduction anesthesia of the finger, the nail plate is removed completely or partially, if necessary. An antibacterial dressing is applied. | The most "clean" removal of the affected nail, when the fungus is removed, including from under the nail ridges, the nail bed is cleared of mycotic layers. It is possible to carry out plastic surgery of a curved nail bed. | From 2500 rub. |
| 3. | Laser nail removal | Anesthesia of the treated finger is also performed. The laser beam burns out the area of the nail affected by the fungus with the capture of the nail bed | Maximum removal of fungal masses, but without 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, as it does not provide complete sanitation of the finger from the fungus.
After surgical or laser removal, of course, the amount of remaining fungus is minimal, but the length of the recovery period, possible disability, 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 fungi. It is also possible to add antimycotic varnishes to the growing edge of the nail plate.
The use of systemic antifungal drugs orally and intravenously. This is the main stage of treatment after nail removal.
It is necessary to ensure the delivery of drugs to the nail matrix, from where 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 its administration.
The type of fungus, the condition of the liver and kidneys, and convenience for the patient are taken into account.
For the liver, intravenous administration of drugs that enter the blood and nail, 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, which include both daily medication and intermittent coursework.
At least once a month, a blood test is performed for liver and kidney parameters. If it deviates from the norm, the treatment is stopped.
- Physiotherapy in the treatment of nail fungus - helps both to destroy the infection and improve the delivery of drugs, accelerate the growth of the nail plate. UV radiation of the nail bed is a detrimental effect on the fungus. 10-15 sessions for 3-5 minutes. Infrared laser - improvement of blood flow in the area of the growth zone and the nail bed, which ensures enhanced delivery 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 in the focus of the pathological process.
- Regular hardware cleaning of the nail bed from layers of hyperkeratosis and fungal residues. 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 depends largely not only on which doctor treats nail fungus, but also on themselves. It is important to regularly take medications and apply antifungal solutions, regularly treat shoes, adhere to the schedule of physiotherapy procedures and cleaning the nail bed.
Which doctor treats nail fungus?
Nail fungus is a serious problem. Everyone who has encountered the defeat of the nail plates with mycosis knows this. It is treated for a long time, far from always with a good effect, and the use of various ointments, creams, solutions in almost 95% of cases does not bring any result at all.
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 a dermatologist who has experience in managing such patients.
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 one month. The result is not immediately visible, it can be very difficult to evaluate the effectiveness. It is also not easy to choose the whole range of procedures and drugs for a particular patient, which differ in each clinical situation.
There is a lot of information on the Internet on antifungal drugs, various laser, physiotherapy methods, and nail removal. Patients, self-medicating, begin to buy one drug after another and, having not received 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 monitoring such patients.
The clinic sees 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.
- Knows how to remove the affected nail plates, clean the nail bed.
- Knows the stages of systemic therapy of onychomycosis, introduction to the course of physiotherapy methods.
- Can change the tactics of treatment in time or add a procedure, a drug, with a weak effect of previously prescribed therapy.
- It has the ability to use all modern methods and the necessary equipment in the clinic for the treatment of nail fungus.
The treatment of such mycoses is a planned, not an emergency procedure. Therefore, after the examination, the doctor who treats nail fungus explains to the patient all the options for possible therapy, but the choice is always up to the person himself.
The course, regardless of the choice of technique, is very long, and each patient must understand at 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, is up to 60% effective.
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 who treats nail fungus says to the patient: If patients are ready to undergo a 3-4 month course of complex therapy for onychomycosis, then success can be achieved. 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 in treatment from both the doctor and the patient, where even small details are important.