General Information About Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus

By Gloria Mason


Laser treatment for toenail fungus is offered in several medical centers. It zaps away the fungus that causes ugly and discolored nails. There is little published information about this procedure but early results indicate that it is a reasonable option for individuals who want to escape the side effects caused by oral medications. There are several causes of this condition. Some people are genetically prone to it. Other risk factors include aging, perspiring heavily, psoriasis, minor nail or skin injury, diabetes, circulation problems among other infections.

Mild forms of this condition are treated as simple cosmetic problems but if allowed to persist the fungus may cause several challenges. The nails usually grow abnormally making it difficult to walk comfortably. This treatment is better than oral medications which are often associated with certain risks such as liver damage, nail lacquer and poor efficacy.

There are various measures that can be put in place to minimize the risk of recurrence. Doctors recommend a proper hygiene program. This may include changing socks on a daily basis, cleaning and drying feet and using an ant-fungal spay on the feet and shoes.

The recommended approach to this problem is to consult a skin specialist (dermatologist) or a medical expert specializing in foot conditions. These specialists provide useful information about the cost, potential complications, follow up care required, medications needed among others. It is a good idea to prepare very well for any appointment with these specialists. This may involve preparing questions in advance, listing current symptoms, key personal information, and any medications being used. .

A thorough diagnosis is necessary to examine the condition of nails. This is performed by scraping debris from the nails which is then analyzed by performing a number of tests. It may be examined under a microscope or cultured to establish the underlying cause of this problem. This is because nail infections may also occur due to infections by bacteria or yeast. Psoriasis has similar symptoms as fungal infections.

The procedure is an outpatient case. The first step is to file the surface of the nails to make it easy for the lasers to penetrate. There is no discomfort experienced during and after the procedure. Most patients report a warming sensation accompanied by mild pinpricks which are not painful. It is a non-invasive procedure and therefore patients resume their activities in no time.

The treatment session lasts for almost one hour depending on the number of affected toes. The number of sessions required by each patient varies according to the severity of each case as well as the nature of laser used. Many patients take a whole year to recover from the problem entirely. It hinders the action of the fungus thus providing a suitable environment for the action of the natural mechanism.

The emergence of laser treatment for toenail fungus has greatly revolutionized the treatment of fungal infections affecting the toenails. It has been proved to be more effective than a majority of oral medications. It is safe as the beams are targeted on the nails without causing any harm to the surrounding areas of the foot. Patients are able to get long lasting results by using topical anti-fungal creams and follow up care.




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