Fungal nail laser treatment is a fairly new method of dealing with the unpleasant fungus that thickens and yellows toenails. It is a treatment that is rapidly gaining popularity, thanks to the ease of use. While it may be more expensive than home remedies, this new method is much more effective.
What is Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is the fungal infection of nails. It affects the toenails most often, but it is also possible to have it on the hands. The fungus causes the nail to create extra layers, adding thickness to such extremes that it may become impossible to clip the nail. Yellowing is another common symptom.
The actual infection is caused by a variety of molds, fungi and bacteria working together. Warm, moist places only help the fungus grow, so damp shoes are the perfect breeding ground. You can end up infected from something as simple as sharing the shower with someone else, which is why locker rooms are a frequent source of infection.
Previous Treatment Methods
Before fungal nail laser treatment was discovered, the only options were oral medications or a nail polish. The nail polish is rarely effective enough to warrant using it, so oral meds are the other common method of eradicating the fungus. There are also a variety of home remedies.
Unfortunately, the medication used to kill off Onychomycosis is dangerous to your liver and can take over a year to get rid of the fungus. A year of potential liver damage is rarely a good idea and there are other side effects, as well, including diarrhea, rashes and headaches. As for home remedies, the results might provide temporary relief, but it is not a permanent solution.
Are Fungal Nail Laser Treatments Effective?
Using laser to treat toenail fungus is fairly new, so only a handful of studies have been done to check the effectiveness. Depending on the study, this method averages over 90% effective in killing off the fungus.
Most people who have tried the treatment report new toenail growth without the fungus. In time, once the diseased nail has grown out, you could end up with clear, thinner nails once more.
How Fungal Nail Laser Treatment Works
A laser toenail treatment is usually done on all 10 toes where lasers will kill the fungus. It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour for a session. Just how many sessions you will need depends on the severity of the fungal growth. Up to four sessions may be necessary for bad infections.
Once the sessions are complete, you will not immediately see clear toenails. When the fungus is dead, the nail will regenerate and the new growth will be clear and thin.
If your toes are infected, you should consider fungal nail laser treatment, a painless and highly effective method.
