There are some diseases that do not pose a danger to life and health in general, but at the same time significantly worsen the quality of human life. This group also includes nail fungus. Modern fashion dictates not only trends, but also actively implements a certain image of a person devoid of all sorts of flaws.
Therefore, even the slightest defects bring great discomfort, and in the future lead to the appearance of depression and complexes. In addition, the symptoms of the fungus spoil not only the appearance. In the list of related troubles, you can add a ban on visiting gyms and swimming pools. And the girls will have to abandon the salon manicure until complete recovery.
It is noteworthy that the fungus affects the nails almost imperceptibly. This pathology does not disappear on its own, and it is quite difficult to treat it, especially at advanced stages. At home, getting rid of the disease is possible, but for this you will have to stock up on patience, time and some knowledge.
What to do
In Soviet times, an effective and inexpensive remedy was often used to treat such an unpleasant pathology. And today it has not lost its relevance. According to reviews, sulfuric ointment from nail fungus is quite actively used now. And this is not surprising. After all, this simple tool really quickly and effectively suppresses the causative agents of the disease. Its action is aimed at stopping the infection and restoration of the nail plates. Many users believe that this tool in its effectiveness is not inferior to iodine and tar.
In fact, sulfuric ointment is a wide spectrum antiseptic. The tool is active against many strains of the fungus. So, before you go to the pharmacy for an expensive innovative drug, talk with your doctor about the possibility of treatment with simple sulfuric ointment.
Symptoms of the disease
Any skin pathology should be treated under the supervision of a specialist, and mycosis is no exception. A dermatologist will determine the type of fungus, the depth and degree of tissue damage, and then choose the optimal treatment tactics. So that mycosis does not increase, having noticed its first signs, immediately go to an appointment with a doctor.
- The first symptoms that patients complain of when the skin is affected by bacteria are itching. At first, slight discomfort occurs, and then the integument begins to itch strongly.
- The fungus, affecting the skin, provokes its redness, after which it begins to peel noticeably.
- The affected nail begins to change - it bends outward on the sides or becomes oval, curved. In this case, the plate thickens.
- The shade of the nail changes - it becomes yellow, white or brown, depending on the type of fungus that provoked the pathology.
Having revealed the symptoms characteristic of mycosis, visit a dermatologist. When the doctor will prescribe you drugs, consult with him about the use of sulfuric ointment. The dermatologist will determine the dosage necessary for effective treatment and the optimal regularity of use.
Description of the drug
Sulfur ointment is considered a budget way to treat fungus. The cost of this tool ranges from 50 rubles. Of course, it is price that is one of the main arguments in favor of the ointment.
In addition, the drug has proven effectiveness. The medicine has been used for several decades to combat a variety of pathologies of the skin and nails. The simple components that make up the drug are guaranteed to destroy mycobacteria even in the deeper layers of the skin.
Reviews of sulfuric ointment from nail fungus are almost always positive, because the tool flawlessly combines cheapness and effectiveness.
Structure
The drug has a uniform, dense consistency and is quickly absorbed into the nail plate. The composition of the ointment includes precipitated sulfur. This ingredient is the main one. As auxiliary components are used:
- distilled water, which acts as an emulsion base;
- emulsifier;
- Vaseline - moisturizes the skin and protects it from external harmful effects, acts as a barrier to damaged areas.
As for sulfur, for a person it performs a number of useful functions. This component promotes the growth of hair and nails, favorably affects the work of cells, as well as nerve, bone and cartilage tissues. Sulfur is not in vain used for many diseases: osteoporosis, scabies, arthritis, allergies, bronchial asthma and other problems. This substance is able to stop inflammation and heal wounds.
Release form
The ointment is produced in aluminum tubes and plastic cans from 25 to 100 grams. In the pharmacy you can find drugs with different contents of the main active substance - 10% and 33%.
The pharmacological effect of the drug depends on the sulfur concentration. Ointment with 33% active ingredient:
- annoying receptors;
- improves blood flow;
- accelerates metabolic processes;
- heals wounds.
The drug with a 10% concentration of ointment:
- accelerates the formation of new cells;
- softens dead skin layers;
- relieves itching.
It is preferable to use 10% sulfuric ointment against nail fungus. In this concentration, the antimicrobial and emollient effect of the drug is stronger than in 33% of the remedy.
The viscous texture of the ointment, provided by auxiliary ingredients, simplifies the use of the drug, forms a barrier to the further development of the fungus, and also moisturizes the skin.
Drug properties
After application to the nail, sulfur begins to interact with various organic elements, due to which pentathionic acids and sulfides are produced in the body. It is these substances that have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. They do not penetrate into the general bloodstream and quite effectively cope with most strains of pathogenic fungi.
Sulfur ointment has several important properties:
- quickly treats mycosis at any stage of the course;
- eliminates burning and itching;
- stops peeling of nails;
- restores the plate after stopping the problem.
In other words, the drug has a systemic effect.
Features
Does sulfuric ointment help with nail fungus? The effectiveness of this tool is provided by its composition. The combination of drug ingredients gives a result similar to the effects of tar and iodine, which are often used in the fight against fungus. In addition, do not forget that the use of this tool has been tested for several decades. So we can say with confidence: sulfuric ointment helps against nail fungus no worse than antimycotic imported drugs.
Advantages
The popularity of sulfuric ointment from nail fungus is due to many advantages.
- The cost of the drug, compared with other popular antifungal agents, is several times lower.
- The effectiveness of the drug has been tested for decades. The ointment effectively fights infections, relieves inflammation, and is indicated for acne and other problems.
- It is very convenient to use the product thanks to the emulsion base, it is quickly absorbed into damaged areas.
Sulfur ointment is indeed very often used to treat fungus. There are several arguments in her favor - low price, rare occurrence of side effects, lack of toxicity, ease of use, studied in detail.
Treatment of nail fungus with sulfuric ointment
We describe the method of therapy:
- The drug should be applied to damaged areas 1-2 times during the day. The course of therapy is 7-14 days, depending on the degree of damage to the nails. However, you should consider that the ointment has a pronounced, specific smell. So in the morning you better use other medicines or nail polish against mycosis.
- If within two weeks you have not noticed positive changes, it is worth visiting the doctor again. Keep in mind that with prolonged use, the ointment dries the skin, which can exacerbate the problem.
- Sulfur is a easily soiled substance, so try to avoid getting it on bedding and clean clothes. In the process of treatment with sulfuric ointment, fungus toenails are very comfortable to use thin cotton socks. So, the medicine is absorbed into the skin faster and does not stain anything.
- The product must be applied to clean, dry nails, gently rubbing in a circular motion. After the session, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap so that sulfur does not get into the mouth, eyes, or other mucous membranes.
- When using sulfuric ointment from nail fungus on the feet or hands, it is necessary to make steaming baths in advance with the addition of soap and soda. Then you need to clean the damaged area from dead particles. The affected nails are best gently filed with an iron nail file. Before and after the procedure, all devices used should be treated with antiseptics. Only after the preparatory phase can the ointment be applied to the nails.
If you are diagnosed with a severe stage of mycosis, you will not be able to manage with ointment alone. In this case, dermatologists prescribe complex therapy using systemic drugs.
Contraindications
All restrictions for the use of sulfuric ointment for nail fungus are described in the instructions. Domestic companies indicate only one contraindication - increased susceptibility of the components of the drug.
During pregnancy and lactation, the use of ointment is not prohibited. But despite this, before treatment, you should still visit a dermatologist and clarify all the details.
Before starting therapy, it is very important to make sure that there are no allergies to the ingredients of the ointment. To do this, take a small amount of the product and apply it on a small area of the skin. The negative reaction of the body usually manifests itself in the form of itching, redness, or swelling. If you encounter such manifestations, immediately wash off the ointment and take an antihistamine.
The product is contraindicated for use in children under three years of age. For kids, a drug with a lower sulfur content is selected.
Side effects
Like any other pharmacy drug, sulfuric ointment can lead to the development of negative reactions. Most often, this happens in the presence of an allergy to the components of the medication. So, while using sulfuric ointment from a fungus, according to reviews, you may encounter such undesirable symptoms:
- hives;
- headache;
- swelling of the throat or tongue;
- redness of the skin;
- dizziness;
- itching
- burning.
And so that this does not happen, it is enough to conduct an allergy test before starting treatment.
Reviews on sulfuric ointment from nail fungus
Is this drug actually effective? To understand the issue will help user reviews on the Web.
The vast majority of patients talk about the many useful properties and advantages of the drug. According to them, sulfuric ointment treats nail fungus literally in a week without any additional medications. Many users claim that they noticed positive changes literally 3-4 days after the start of the drug. And this quality alone is already enough to verify the effectiveness of the ointment.
True, according to dermatologists, this applies only to mild forms of mycosis. At advanced stages, the drug can only be used as an adjuvant, accelerating the healing process and getting rid of nail fungus.
In reviews of sulfuric ointment, many benefits of the drug are mentioned. Users emphasize the convenience of applying the product and its versatility. After all, the ointment can be used not only for nail fungus. It is also effective for mycosis of the skin, and other problems.
And, of course, all users call the main advantage of the medication low cost.
As for the shortcomings, then, according to patients, a specific, unpleasant aroma of the drug can be attributed to them. Not everyone tolerates this “aroma” well. It is because of this that the ointment can be used only in the evenings, before bedtime. After all, I don’t want to go to work with such a smell. In addition, the ointment is very easily soiled. At the slightest touch, the clothes instantly get dirty.
Conclusion
Is it possible to cure nail fungus with sulfuric ointment? According to reviews, this is quite realistic with minimal effort and cost, if we are talking about minor lesions. But at the advanced stages of mycosis, you still have to visit a dermatologist and resort to complex therapy. But even as an adjuvant, sulfuric ointment shows excellent results.