Nail problems don't end at chipped or broken nails. In fact, they could sometimes be as severe as fungal infections, labeled by medical professionals as dermatophytes, aspergillus sp., and candida and pityrosporum yeasts. We're talking about ringworms and athlete's foot, which may at times be so severe as to be more than inconvenient. To get rid of these fungal afflictions, one needs the help of a certified fungal fighter. In other words, one needs Lamisil!

Lamisil cream is sometimes provided in pill form for the treatment of nail funguses, such as athlete's foot or ringworm, and in cream form for the treatment of other fungal diseases, such as jock itch or tinea versicolor, a condition which produces a brown, white, or tan pigmentation or scaly texture to appear on certain patches of the human torso. All these conditions are considered harmless, until they become widespread and difficult to control. At times these conditions may also cause discomfort and pain.

It stands to reason that many fungal infections - tinea versicolor, especially - occur in tropical regions, where people sweat a lot and confinement of the skin within tight clothing causes the development of fungi to occur. In the summer, conditions such as these may also be common, though no less irritating. People who sweat a lot or are acne-prone may find themselves more susceptible to fungal skin infections. People with an immunodeficiency (such as an HIV infection) may also find their skin vulnerable, as fungi spread more easily on a body that has little or no natural resistance to them. Systemic application of this medicine is often reserved for cases where topical therapy has not produced the desired effect.

Terbinafine hydrochloride is a common solution to these ailments. This is a fine white powder that is easily dissolved in most alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol and methylene chloride. It is only somewhat soluble in water. It was discovered in 1974 as one of the first allylamine-class antifungals. In 1991, it was approved in the UK for systemic use, and was approved in the USA for topical use in 1992. It intereferes with the cell membranes of fungi through inhibiting ergosterol, a vital component of fungus cell membranes, thus killing them effectively. Evidence of intake of this substance can be found in nail clippings three weeks after the start of therapy.

While terbinafine hydrochloride is used to treat common skin conditions, it is nonetheless important to take note of the circumstances that may inhibit a person from ingesting or applying this substance. It is important, for example, that a person taking terbinafine hydrochloride tablets does not consume alcohol. This may worsen any pre-existing liver diseases, or create avenues toward liver damage - this process is also known as creating hepatoxicity.

Symptoms of adverse effects caused by this medicine include yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusually dark urine, abdominal pains, vomiting and nausea, loss of appetite, itching and flu-like symptoms. Other side effects of the tablets which may not have anything to do with liver failure include rash, headache, diarrhea and indigestion. If you have developed a rash upon using the topical version of this medicine, you might have an allergy to it, and it would be good to consult your doctor for alternative medication.

There are some other substances that may produce adverse effects when combined with terbinafine hydrochloride, namely:

- antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft, Elavil, and Paxil
- cyclosporine, also known by brand names Sandimmune and Neoral
- Cimetidine, also known as Tagamet
- Rifampin, also known by brands Rimactane and Rifadin
- heart and blood pressure medications known as beta blockers, such as Sectral, Inderal, and Tenormin

It is important that children under the age of 12 not take this medication. This medicine falls under FDA Pregnancy Category B, which means it is not recommended that pregnant and nursing mothers take this medicine. People with bad kidneys, psoriasis and allergy to allylamines may also wish to avoid this medication.

It may be good to note that this is a pharmacy-only medicine which may cause some problems in customs when shipped to other countries. Beyond this, Lamisil cream may be purchased over the counter without hassle. After a full week of applying this medicine and there are still no changes, it may be best to consult a doctor: the infection may not actually be fungal in origin.