Mycoses are diseases that are caused by parasitic fungi. They can affect the skin and nail plates, as well as the internal organs of a person. Sources of the spread of such diseases are animals, people, soil, contaminated food sources and water.
A person who takes antibiotics is more likely to become infected with fungal infections. Also at risk are patients with AIDS and HIV, with weakened immunity, undergoing chemotherapy or steroid therapy, and patients with diabetes mellitus.
Judging by the reviews, the most effective and popular antifungal drug for external use is Exoderil Cream. Instructions for use, analogues, features, properties of this tool and other information about it are presented below.
Packaging, composition and description of the medication
What is exoderil cream? The instruction reports that such a drug goes on sale in the form of a white homogeneous or slightly granular shiny mass with a faint characteristic odor.
The product in question is intended for external use only. Its active ingredient is naftifine hydrochloride. The cream also includes auxiliary ingredients such as sodium hydroxide, isopropyl myristate, benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, sorbitan stearate, purified water, cetyl palmitate, stearyl and cetyl alcohols.
The cream is placed in aluminum tubes and cardboard packs, respectively.
Drug action
According to the instructions, Exoderil Cream is a good antifungal agent intended for external use. It belongs to the group of allylamines, and its principle of action is based on the inhibition of the synthesis of squalene-2,3-epoxidase. The use of the drug according to indications helps to reduce the formation of ergosterol, which is part of the cell walls of the fungus.
The medication is highly active against mold and other fungi, as well as dermatophytes and aspergillus. The drug acts on the latter fungicidal. As for yeast fungi, in relation to them, Exoderil exhibits fungistatic or fungicidal activity (depending on the strain of microorganisms).
Other features
What properties are inherent to the cream "Exoderil"? Instructions for use and expert reviews indicate that such an external agent is capable of exerting an antibacterial effect on gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms that cause bacterial infections, including secondary ones.
We can not say that this drug acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Its use contributes to the disappearance of not only symptoms of inflammation, but also characteristic itching.
Pharmacokinetic properties
According to the attached instructions, the cream “Exoderil”, or rather its active component, penetrates quickly and well into all layers of the skin, reaching sufficient concentrations in them for an antifungal effect.
After applying the medicine to the skin, about 6% of the main substance undergoes systemic absorption.
The absorbed component is partially metabolized, and then excreted by the kidneys or through the intestines.
The half-life of the drug is 2-3 days.
Indications for application
What are the indications for use of Exoderil Cream? The instruction (analogues of the drug are listed below) indicates the following conditions in which the said agent is particularly effective:
- candidiasis of the skin;
- fungal infections of skin folds and skin, including interdigital mycoses;
- pityriasis versicolor;
- onychomycosis;
- dermatomycosis.
Contraindications
When can you not use Exoderil Cream? The use of this drug is contraindicated in:
- lactation;
- high sensitivity of the patient to naphthyne or other components of the drug;
- pregnancy.
With extreme caution, this medicine is prescribed in childhood.
Cream "Exoderil": instructions for use
Before using the drug in question, it is necessary to consult a specialist. To confirm the presence of fungal infections, the patient needs to pass all the necessary tests.
How to apply Exoderil cream? The instruction reports that such a drug must be applied directly to the affected areas of the skin, as well as the areas adjacent to them. The treatment procedure should be carried out once a day, and only after thoroughly drying and cleaning the surfaces, capturing about one centimeter of healthy skin.
The duration of therapy with this drug for dermatomycosis should be at least 2-4 weeks (if necessary, up to 8 weeks), and for candidiasis - up to 4 weeks.
If the patient is diagnosed with onychomycosis, then before the first use of an external agent, the entire affected part of the nail plate should be removed as much as possible. You can do this with scissors or a nail file. After treatment, the medication must be applied to the affected areas (up to two times a day). Antifungal therapy with such a cream should not last less than six months.
To prevent recurrence of infection, it is necessary to carry out treatment for 14 days after the disappearance of all clinical symptoms.
Negative Actions
What adverse reactions can Exoderil Cream cause? Instructions and patient reviews report that in rare cases, the use of such a drug contributes to local irritation, as well as dry skin, hyperemia and burning.
As for specialists, they argue that all of the above side effects are reversible and do not require drug withdrawal.
It's important to know!
The medication in question does not have any effect on the patient's ability to drive vehicles and perform work that requires a high concentration of attention and the speed of psychomotor reactions.
Exoderil Cream is not intended for use in ophthalmic practice, so avoid contact with eyes.
No special measures to destroy the medication are required.
Analogs of Exoderil Cream
Many patients believe that the cost of the drug "Exoderil" is overpriced. And, indeed, the price of one tube of such a tool costs about 500 rubles. In this regard, most people go in search of cheap analogues.
To treat a fungal infection, some patients use a solution of (alcohol-containing) salicylic acid. Also, for the treatment of affected nail plates, you can use 1% ointment "Clotrimazole". This is the most inexpensive drug, which is an analogue of Exoderil. He effectively copes with the task. However, such a tool is inconvenient in that it should be applied to the affected area several times a day.
The following drugs can also be referred to the cheap Exoderil analogues: Terbinox, Naftifin, Terbizil, Fungoterbin, Nitrofungin, Mikoderil, Mikozan and Loceryl.
The last two remedies are used most often against fungal infections. "Lotseril" is an anti-mycotic nail polish. Its active ingredient is amorolfin.
As for the "Mycosan", then this is a whole set, designed to remove fungal lesions from the nail plate. The drug goes on sale in the form of serum. In addition, it is equipped with a brush applicator and disposable nail files, which greatly facilitates the process of applying the medicine to the affected area.
The main substance of "Mycosan" is a filtrate of the rye enzyme. After applying to the nail plate, the medication does not just have an antifungal effect, but increases its density, reduces porosity and creates unfavorable conditions for the growth of pathogenic fungi.
Reviews
Reviews on the drug "Exoderil" on the World Wide Web can be found very different. This medicine helps some patients regain a healthy state of nails and skin, while others, on the contrary, do not give any improvement even after 2-3 months after using the drug.
In general, people using Exoderil cream talk about the following advantages of this drug:
- availability in all pharmacy chains;
- ease of use;
- the presence of other forms of release;
- effective antifungal effect.
As for the negative sides of the considered tool, then they include:
- high cost of the drug;
- lack of effect in severe forms of fungus (complex treatment is required).
Experts report that getting rid of mycosis of nails and skin with the help of "Exoderil" is possible only if the treatment is carried out correctly. They claim that with fungal infections, the pathological process spreads very quickly to healthy areas. Therefore, it is advisable to combine the cream with other forms of antimycotic agents (for example, with drops, varnish, solution, etc.).
Doctors also recommend using any external preparations from the fungus regularly and for a long time. In this case, it is extremely important to properly care for the affected areas, do not forget about personal hygiene and disinfection of all surfaces that come into contact with the fungus.