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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.

Such infections may manifest first as small white spots that eventually start to spread. Gradually, the affected area encompasses the entire nail. The fungus may grow on just one nail, or infection can involve multiple toenails. This fungus is often difficult to eliminate, and in numerous instances it appears to have disappeared, but reoccurs in the future. As previously mentioned, laser therapy is a new approach to treating an infection of this type, and numerous individuals have realized success with this procedure.

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.

To date, there are two kinds of laser treatment that can be performed on those afflicted with the aforementioned condition. The first is patholase. However, due to lack of evidence of beneficial results, the United States FDA has not yet approved the treatment.

Nomir laser therapy is another option for those suffering from the aforementioned condition. Although this treatment is also awaiting FDA approval, studies are overwhelmingly positive with regard to its success rate. In preliminary clinical trials, 85 percent of participants had an improvement in their condition within six months of completing the treatment. Additional studies are underway concerning this type 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 approximately thirty minutes and can be done in a doctor's office. It typically takes 3 visits to acquire enough wavelengths to kill the infection. Anesthesia is not needed, as the person generally feels nothing during the process.

Essentially anyone can participate in laser treatment for toenail fungus. No one has reported major adverse reactions so far, and both footwear and nail polish can be worn immediately after each session. Those who are interested in this type of therapy should speak to a medical professional and be evaluated before an appointment for the procedure is scheduled.




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