Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus Shows Promise

By Gloria Mason


Fungal infections of the toenails, for which the technical name is onychomycosis, occur when fungi infect the nails and they become thick and hard. Such infections also cause the edges of each nail to crumble, resulting in painful, tender skin. Laser treatment for toenail fungus is a new therapy developed to eradicate this uncomfortable and embarrassing condition.

The aforementioned infection may first manifest as tiny white spots that gradually begin to spread. Eventually, the entire nail is affected. The fungus may be present in only one nail, or multiple toenails can be infected. Such infections are often challenging to treat, and in many cases it appears that they have cleared up, but they recur in the future. As mentioned above, laser therapy is a new approach to such infections, and many patients have enjoyed success when such therapy was pursued.

Fungi are microscopic growths that thrive in warm, dark, moist environment. This is why many people catch such infections in public swimming pools or showers. The technical term for the fungi that cause such infections is dermatophytes. The tiny openings where the nail bed separates from the nail itself is typically the portal of entry for such infections.

Although scientists do not know the reason, toenail fungus affects more men than women. Infections of this kind are also less common among young individuals than they are among the elderly. Again, researchers are not exactly sure what causes certain people to be at a higher risk for such infections.

Currently, there are 2 types of laser treatment available for fungus of the toenails. One is called patholase, but this kind has not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This is because preliminary studies do not support the fact that it is effective in treating the aforementioned infection.

Nomir is the other type of laser therapy available, but it is also pending FDA approval. However, studies concerning this therapy are overwhelmingly positive regarding its rate of success. In preliminary trials, eighty-five percent of participants experienced an improvement within 6 months of treatment. More research is currently being conducted regarding this kind of therapy.

A laser is a precise light beam, and when it is directed to the tissue where the infection has manifested, the latter is vaporized. It typically takes several treatments to achieve these results. Different wavelengths are used to selectively treat each area, based on the infection's severity. The fungus is killed through the heat from the light beam, and the surrounding tissue is not harmed. Such therapy is associated with essentially no side effects.

The procedure takes about half an hour and can be performed in the office of a general doctor. It typically takes 3 sessions to administer enough wavelengths to eradicate fungi. It is not necessary to place the patient under anesthesia, as he or she will typically feel nothing during the process.

Laser treatment for toenail fungus can be performed on essentially anyone. No incidences of adverse reactions have yet been reported, and both nail polish and footwear can be worn immediately following the therapy. Anyone who is interested in this procedure should schedule an appointment with his or her primary health care practitioner for an evaluation and advice.




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