There are many people who avoid wearing sandals because they have unsightly feet, but thanks to laser treatment for toenail fungus, this may change. Laser therapy has proven to be very effective in getting rid of the fungus by vaporizing it. In fact, studies put its effectiveness at around 90 percent. In addition to having unsightly nails, those who have onychomycosis, or nail fungus, also experience a lot of pain.
How Laser Therapy Works
Onychomycosis occurs when fungal spores infect the skin. It is very similar to athletes foot. Any treatment option should aim to kill the fungus, and laser therapy does just that. A strong beam of light is focused onto the infected nails and surrounding tissues. This should not take more than 20 minutes, since each toenail requires about two minutes of exposure to the intense beam. This is an outpatient, non-invasive procedure that is done using a hand-held device. It is painless and does not have any side effects. The number of treatment sessions required depends on the severity of the infection as well as the number of infected toenails.
Target Group
Anyone who has nail fungus can benefit from this technique. It is important to note that this fungal problem can affect anyone regardless of age, race or gender. However, there are some people who are at high risk. These include:
- People suffering from diabetes
- Psoriasis sufferers
- Men, especially those who exercise frequently
- The elderly in the society
- Those who have perspiring feet
Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment vs. Anti-fungal Medications
Lasers have numerous advantages over anti-fungal creams, pills and other types of medications. For one, it does not have any side effects. Other medications are known to affect the surrounding tissue of the nail.
Anti-fungal creams normally take up to three months to produce the desired results, and they have to be used on a daily basis. On the other hand, laser treatment for toenail fungus is effective because it can kill the fungus in just one treatment.
Medicated nail polish can be used for onychomycosis treatment, but the paint cannot reach some places, so it is usually not very effective. Laser beams can penetrate the tissues underneath the nail and kill all the fungus. The success rate of laser therapy is much higher than what can be achieved with other medications This makes it the best treatment option for onychomycosis.
Why Laser Therapy
People who have onychomycosis may want to get rid of the fungal nail problem because it:
- Causes a lot of pain
- Can make walking almost impossible
- Leads to discolored and unsightly nails
- Causes nails to thicken and crumble around the edges
If you have any of these signs or symptoms, it is important that you consult a doctor and schedule a treatment session.
