Approximately 1 in 10 Americans has a fungal nail infection. Fairly typical, nail fungus infection is particularly severe to eliminate when is not treated correctly.
Can you cure toenail fungus with a laser?
In addition to pain, bad smells and nail loss, fungal infections usually cause nail thickening generating a discomfort that worsens over time.
However, why would someone with such annoying symptoms let the time fly out of their nails? Well, sometimes they don’t have enough patience to finish treatment
Antifungal nails treatments require perseverance and dedication, perhaps a year of continuous application to completely eradicate microorganisms from the nail bed.
Alternative methods: Laser treatment
The procedure consists in directing a specially designed laser beam through the nail, which penetrates the nail bed eliminating the fungus and leaving intact the nail and the surrounding healthy tissue.
At the time of the procedure, the nail maintains the typical fungal infections coloration: orange, yellow, but as it grows it will show its clear and healthy color again.
To eliminate nail fungus with a laser treatment, it is essential to;
1. Make a correct diagnosis.
Before starting any medical treatment, it is crucial to determine which pathology we are dealing with a laboratory study, to make sure it isn’t psoriasis, lichen planus or bacterial infections case, contact dermatitis or other nail conditions.
2. Have realistic expectations.
It’s vital to maintain realistic expectations about the results and insist that it can take time to appreciate them, given the slow nail growth. Making a photographic record is an excellent tool to observe treatment evolution.
3. Clean or debride the infected nails as much as possible.
In addition to removing enamels or creams residues, it is necessary to reduce nail hyperkeratosis as much as possible. To successfully carry out the nail debridement, it’ll be required to file the infected nail plate.
4. Use a laser with the right wavelength and power.
It’s necessary an adequate wavelength and energy, which manage to penetrate the nail plate and destroy the fungus without damaging the surrounding tissue. Consult your specialist and ask for references on the effectiveness of the equipment.
5. Apply the laser over the whole nail surface.
The laser should be applied to the entire nail surface making sure nail bed, matrix, and lateral folds are receiving treatment. This will ensure there are no fungal hyphae untreated that may favor reinfection.
6. Prevent relapse to prevent reinfection.
Preventing reinfection is easy. Start by discarding old shoes, disinfect all footwear with antifungal spray or zinc oxide powders, avoid walking barefoot in public places, wear cotton socks and keep feet fresh and clean.
7. Schedule and follow appropriate number of sessions.
The number of laser sessions will depend on each case, the number of infected nails and the particular evolution of each patient, it is essential to complete the entire treatment to avoid relapses.
