How Laser Therapy Can End Your Toenail Fungus Struggles?

Your nails, which were once attractive, have become thicker, more discolored, and fragile. You might have felt demons of horror after noticing them popping up from your sandals. If you see such signs around your toenails, it’s possible that you have toenail fungus. Perhaps you’ve tried several over-the-counter remedies, but nothing appears to be working for you.

At Restore Podiatry, we understand how you are feeling. Therefore, after checking your problem thoroughly, we’ll provide you with various skin and nail treatments. One of the latest breakthroughs to treat toenail fungus is laser therapy. But how effective is it?

What Is Toenail Fungus?

A common fungal condition that affects your toenails is called toenail fungus. When fungi grow between your toenail and the tissue directly beneath it, you have toenail fungus. It is commonly caused due to a cut or crack in your toe that gives way for the fungus to enter your skin.

Signs of Toenail Fungus Infection

You can easily spot toenail fungus infections if you look out for these signs:

Nails turning yellow
White dots and streaks
Thickness and deformity of the nails
Brittle nails
Pain or discomfort around your toes
Separation from the nailbed

How To Treat Toenail Fungus

The first approach to a toenail fungus is to let it be and treat it by itself. However, toenail fungal infection will not resolve on its own. You must treat it medically. And, unless properly treated, you are contagious to others. The fungus can spread through direct or indirect contact.

Previously, doctors used to give over-the-counter oral tablets to treat toenail fungus. However, they had to be taken in large doses that disturbed the body’s microbiota. Topical treatments were effective but they could not reach the infected area of the fungus.

Laser therapy for toenail fungus is a painless technique to go to the source of the problem, eliminating the need for topical therapies or lengthy antibiotic regimens. A clinical research conducted in 2015 discovered that individuals treated with these technologies had clean nails 16 to 24 weeks after therapy.

Advantages of Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus

Laser therapy provides numerous benefits, making it an appealing option for patients seeking successful treatment. Here are some major characteristics that characterize it as an excellent therapy option.

High success rate: Many times patients see drastic improvement within just a few sessions. Success comes from the fact that the laser can get under the nail and directly target the fungus.
Noninvasive treatment: The laser treatment of toenail fungus is a noninvasive approach as opposed to surgical methods. There are no scars, and no stitches exist; therefore, chances for complications are greatly reduced, allowing faster recovery.
Minimal discomfort: The procedure is easy and relatively painless. It only gives a sensation of warmth to most patients.
Quick process: Each session of laser therapy is completed in just 30 minutes.
No side effects: Conventional antifungal medications can lead to several side effects that include reactions like local skin irritation and other drastic effects on the liver. There are no known adverse effects of laser therapy, and hence, it is more acceptable to most patients.

How Does Laser Treatment Work for Toenail Fungus?

Laser treatment employs concentrated light to eliminate and prevent nail fungal growth. There are several types of laser treatments available, which may influence how well a person responds to the procedure.

Laser treatment of nail fungus began in the 1980s. Since then, various types of laser therapies have slowly reached the market.

The absorption of laser light damages or kills fungal cells. The operation will cause no discomfort for the vast majority of people.

Preparation

Although some clinics may recommend topical lotions, there is no need for any preparation.

During the Procedure

During the laser treatment process, you can anticipate sitting in an armchair with shoes and socks removed. A technician will use a device to beam light on each nail on the affected hand or foot. You may feel the heat from the laser.

The process should take roughly 30 minutes.

Recovery

A person normally does not require any recuperation time and can resume their normal activities immediately after each session. However, it may take up to two months to see effects from the operation.

Other information

Other considerations include:

You must take at least three sessions, spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
All affected nails are treated
Creams may be required to help recover properly.
Toenails may take 12-18 months to fully replace the entire length of toenails.

Effectiveness of Laser Therapy

Both researchers and professionals agree that there is little information available regarding the safety and effectiveness of laser treatment for onychomycosis.

However, a meta-analysis conducted in 2019 unearthed evidence that indeed, laser treatment can be effective and safe in the management of patients infected with nail fungus. In the study, it was further proven that 1064 nm laser treatment is more effective than other laser treatments available in the market. The 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser, in particular, offers high cure rates and a low-risk profile.

Aside from the fact that the total success rate was about 63%, the factor that may really make laser therapy preferable is the danger of negative effects associated with drug use. Alternative lasers: other types of lasers both work and can be used safely.

During the booking of the session, it would be advisable to discuss with the clinic representative the different types of lasers that are used as well as the overall success rate for each of them.

Are There Any Risk Factors with Laser Therapy?

Laser treatments are generally safe. Some people report minor discomfort and a sense of heat while having treatment.

In fact, one of the benefits of laser therapy is the reduced risk. Oral drugs may cause liver damage, renal damage, or gastrointestinal problems. So, laser treatment can be safer for youngsters, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing diseases.

Conclusion

Laser treatment is the newest treatment in treating nail infections by fungus. Studies show that laser treatment might be useful and safe, especially for patients belonging to the at-risk population, having renal or hepatic problems or even pregnant patients. It may be expensive, but it is worth the cost.

The most appropriate way to find out if you are fit for this treatment is to have a consultation with a board-certified podiatrist at Restore Podiatry. The expert will check your infection, consider your objectives, and explain what you can expect from the treatment.