Yeast Infection and Toenail Fungus Medicines- What you should know
Thick yellow nails? Mycosis? UTI? How Antifungal Treatments Stack Up, Around Surprising Side Effects, and Prevention Tips
Bacterial and viral infections seem to be in the news every
day, but have you ever wondered why yeast infections and the consequences of
their treatment rarely make the headlines?
"Yeast infections can be bothersome, nevertheless they
are generally low-acuity and not life-threatening for people with healthy
immune systems," says Rupali Jain, PharmD, clinical associate professor in
the College of Pharmacy at the University of California. University of
Washington in Seattle.
Although superficial fungal infections, which affect the
outer layer of the skin and other body surfaces, are rarely serious, they can
look unsightly (nail fungus), can be itchy (vaginal itching), and are
relatively common. They represent 25% of all fungal infections. skin
infections. In addition to vaginal and toenail yeast infection (which is caused
by a fungus), common infections include ringworm, athlete's foot, scalp
infection, and itching.
They are usually treated with the same family of
antifungals.
You can often treat
less persistent and less serious infections with over-the-counter antifungal
creams, powders, and gels. These treatments are generally considered effective
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have few side effects, and can be
used securely without a doctor's supervision.
The best-known fungal infection, thanks to advertising, is
onychomycosis, or nail fungus, which occurs more often on toenails than
toenails, according to Paul Lyons, MD, senior associate dean. From education at
the University of California Riverside School of Medicine, the condition is not
all that is common despite the seemingly constant advertisements on TV and on
the web for nail fungus medications.
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"Nail fungus is actually inside the nail itself, so it
is generally not treated effectively with anything that would be applied to the
nail plate," says Lyons. Over-the-counter medications cannot bout a fungus
under the nail or else in the bloodstream.
"You consume to take a drug by mouth, which gives
you increasing exposure to the drug," Lyons explains. This increases the
risk of side effects.
Jain agrees. "There may be times when you use oral
therapy for infections because they don't respond to topical therapy," he
says. "Systemic therapy (ie intravenous or oral) is generally safe, but in
rare circumstances these drugs can cause liver damage if safety measures are
not taken, such as monitoring laboratory tests and side possessions."
Diflucan, Jublia, Nizoral, Extina, Mycelex and Monistat
A class of antifungals commonly used to treat yeast
infections is called azoles,
through brand names
such as Diflucan, Jublia, Nizoral, Extina, Mycelex, besides Monistat .
Over-the-counter azoles (unguents, lotions, powders, etc.) ) can cause some
burns or irritation to the area where they are practical, but these side
effects are rare. Treatment azoles have more serious side effects.
In 2021, the FDA issued a statement announcing that the
agency was re-evaluating the safety for pregnant women using Diflucan
(fluconazole). It is sometimes used to treat nail fungus, although it is not
approved for this, but the FDA's concern is its official use for vaginal yeast
infections in pregnant women. While the FDA considers the standard single 150
mg dose of fluconazole to be safe during pregnancy, evidence suggests that
taking doses greater than 150 mg (400 mg to 800 mg per day) or taking
fluconazole for long periods may harm the fetus. . Baby.
The FDA's concern was based on a 2021 study in which women
using the oral sort of fluconazole had a slightly developed risk of breakdown
than those using the topical version. The Danish study found reports of
abnormalities in newborn babies whose mothers took as little as one or two
doses of oral fluconazole 150 mg. Previously, the anomalies
