Laser Treatment To The Rescue
Traditional remedies for toenail fungus focused on oral and topical medications and surgery. But we bring the latest innovations in laser treatment to our practice.
Aerolase, a gentle yet effective laser therapy system, penetrates deep into your nail bed and matrix, where it administers targeted levels of heat to kill your fungal infection. Unlike other toenail fungus laser systems, this advanced technology delivers 650-microsecond bursts of energy.
This innovative approach creates a uniquely pain-free treatment session with fewer chances of pigmentation changes in the treatment area. While Aerolase sessions are comfortable, you may feel small amounts of heat or a slight pinching sensation during your treatment.
To effectively eradicate toenail fungus, we often recommend three treatment sessions every 3-4 weeks. But, we evaluate each treatment plan on a case-by-case basis, given the extent of your infection.
To make sure your toenails are ready for sandal season, call us at City Podiatry or schedule an appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy…
How Are Fungal Toenails Treated
Topical solutions are effective for early infections when your nail thickening is minimal, and your infection is superficial. With thicker nails and deeper fungal infections, Dr. Charisse Dunn typically prescribes oral medication after drawing the necessary blood work.
Another solution is laser treatment of fungal toenails, which can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, oral antifungal therapy. Laser treatment is an excellent alternative for several reasons, such as:
- Its effective for both superficial and deep infections
- It can be used on patients with any medical condition
Its important to remember that fungal infections are often resolved but rarely cured, due to the nature of the organism. A daily regimen of topical antifungal therapy, antifungal spray or powders, and proper hygiene is necessary to achieve the best results.
To find out how you can combat unsightly toenail fungus, call or go online to book an appointment at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A.
Avance Salon And Professional Nail Fungus Treatment Machine
This advanced system for the treatment of toenail fungus uses a powerful 655nm laser to penetrate the nail and target Onychomycosis fungus to improve nail health, return thick toenails to a normal thinness, and bring back a healthy color and appearance without damaging skin cells.
It also comes supplied with a fungicidal gel to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment, plus two pairs of protective goggles to ensure eyes arent damaged when using the laser.
The company claims that in 77% of cases this professional level piece of kit gives visible results as quickly as 1 -2 weeks following the start of treatment.
Pros
- Supplied with a good range of accessories
Cons
Recommended Reading: How Many Nails Per Shingle
How Many Treatments Do I Need
The number of laser treatments you will require is determined by the number of infected nails, severity of the fungal nail infection, your age and general health. Your podiatrist will advise on the number of laser therapy appointments recommended for your treatment at the initial consultation. On average, most fungal nail infections will require between 5 7 treatments for effective eradication.
If over the counter creams and tinctures hasnt worked or if taking oral medication poses too much risk to your health, laser therapy would be an excellent choice for you to consider. Its a no fuss, pain-free and quick solution for fungal nail infections. Contact us today on 9711 7562 if you have any questions or you can easily book online for an appointment. We look forward to seeing you at The Footcare Clinic.
Foot And Ankle Surgeon & Podiatrist Located In Palm Beach Gardens Fl
If youre looking for a fast and effective treatment for toenail fungus, laser treatments may be the perfect solution. Podiatrist Dr. E. Charisse Dunn offers state-of-the-art laser treatments at PGA Foot & Ankle P.A. to patients in the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida area. These laser treatments are quick, painless, and highly effective in eradicating unattractive fungus. Call or go online to make an appointment with Dr. Dunn to find out how laser therapy can help you.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Uv Gel Nail Polish
How Does Laser Therapy Work
In simplified terms, the laser therapy device shines a laser light into the toenail, penetrating down on, in, and through the nail to reach the fungus. It vaporizes the fungus. It also leaves the skin and tissue around the fungus alone.
Essentially, the laser device is set at a certain wavelength that only the fungus will absorb. When it penetrates the fungus, it destroys it.
If we want to get a little more technical, there are a few ways it can destroy fungus depending on the laser. Most lasers use photothermolysis that causes photomechanical or photothermal damage. We like the non-thermal laser therapy as it is pain-free since it doesnt use heat. It is still absorbed by the fungus only and damages the structure of the fungus.
But what you need to know is that laser therapy has been proven effective in clinical trials and because of this, the FDA began clearing laser devices.
As with all the treatments, you wont see the results right away. You have to wait until your nice fungus-free nail grows in. This will take months. But youll start to see the difference as the new nail comes in.
What Are The Costs Involved
An initial consultation is required to assess your nail condition, measure the extent of nail damage and determine if laser is the right treatment for you. This may involve pathology testing to determine what fungal bugs are involved.
The costs associated with laser treatment will vary from patient to patient, based on the number of treatments required. As a guide, treatment protocol to achieve best results is a minimum of 4 treatments over 12 weeks. These treatments are $115-$150 per session, depending on the number of nails being treated. This will be claimable on some private health insurance funds.
If you are concerned about the appearance of your nails and would like further advice, please call Peninsula Foot Clinic on 59820000.
Also Check: How Long Does Nail Fungus Last
What To Do To Get The Best Treatment Results
Studies show that in one out of four cases, fungal nail infection, which has been healed out for three years, tends to recur again. Due to this reason, we recommend:
- Do not wait until the nail fungus spreads, treat it immediately
- Trim your nails briefly
- Use individual scissors to cut damaged nails
- Avoid to irritate or injury damaged areas. For example, if the legs are damaged, wear suitable footwear
- Try to keep your feet cool and dry
- Do not walk barefoot
- Remember to carefully inspect the nails at least once a month
- Use a personalized towel, shoes, socks, gloves, scissors for nail cutting
- Disinfect the nail care tools and, while cutting nails or cuticles, try not to damage them
- Wear moisture absorbing socks
- Do not forget your footwear in swimming pools, baths, common shower rooms
- Do not forget to disinfect your shoes.
The Type Of Facility Providing The Treatment
Majorly, the average price of laser therapy for toenail fungus is a function of your care provider. To explain it simply, if you go to an expensive therapist or clinic, youll pay a lot of money.
On the other hand, if you visit a low-cost medical spa or clinic, youll pay the average market price. However, you can often count on more expensive clinics to deliver high-quality service.
More expensive clinics are often so because they use high-quality tools, and products. They also employ skilled medical aestheticians and therapists who can provide quality and timely services. Not to forget their state-of-the-art facilities that include everything you need to receive quality laser therapy treatments.
On the other hand, low-cost facilities do not provide some of the luxuries youll get to enjoy with expensive facilities. For example, they may make use of cheap products and tools.
They may employ only a few skilled practitioners. So, there may not be enough workers to attend to clients. And lastly, the building and available facilities may not be state of art or well equipped.
Don’t Miss: Where To Go For Toenail Fungus
What Should You Do After Having A Laser Treatment Procedure
One of the positive things about doing laser treatment for nail fungus is that there is no recovery time after the procedure. There will be no hassle in continuing your daily activities. Experts suggest that in order to provide the most effective treatment, it is recommended to couple laser therapy with topical antifungal medication for daily use so as to keep the nails healthy.
Results
The preliminary studies on nail fungus laser treatment still have varied results in terms of efficacy. According to these a few studies, the laser treatment method has promising effectiveness in treating moderate to severe nail fungus problems. One study has tested that carbon-dioxide therapy combined with antifungal topical solutions prove to be quite effective.
Side Effects
Since laser therapy for nail fungus infections is a new technology, only a few researches have been conducted. As of last year, no associated side effects were observed when using laser therapy in treating fungal infections. This is in contrast with the common oral medication where renal problems, loose bowel movements, skin breakouts, headaches and changes in taste were reported side effects of the drug.
Still, there is no 100% assurance for cure with the laser treatment and there is a possibility that nail fungus may recur. A contradictory study published by the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology found that even after 5 sessions, laser treatment produce little improvements with nail fungus.
Laser Therapy For Fungal Nail Infections
Imagine being able to wear sandals and thongs without feeling conscious about your funky toenails. If youve endured years of thick and discoloured toenails that seems to be getting worse no matter what youve tried, this blog is for you.
Fungal nail infections are stubborn to treat and many people go through many over-the-counter creams and tinctures with little to no success.
At The Footcare Clinic we have seen the fungal brigade struggle and have invested in using laser therapy for our many clients who dream of having normal looking nails again.
Don’t Miss: How To Set Gel Nail Polish
How Do Dermatologists Treat A Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail, cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.
To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:
Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months.
Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, its essential that you apply these medicines exactly as directed.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the following medicines that you apply to the nail to treat nail fungus:
Side effects from these medicines are generally mild. Possible side effects include redness and swelling, an ingrown toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment.
Antifungal pills, however, can cause side effects. Your dermatologist will watch you closely. Youll also need to have blood tests every month to check for problems.
Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment
Toenail fungus is a quite notorious infection. This infection will make you feel embarrassed to wear open shoes and hurt your self-esteem. To add to this, you might find yourself spending a lot of money and wasting a lot of time trying to find the right oral medication for this infection. Some of these medications may have nasty side effects on your body.
If this has been you or someone you know, then you have a reason to celebrate. Recently, nail fungus laser treatment has picked up a lot of traction thanks to its massive success in combating this infection.
You May Like: What Nails Do You Use For Siding
Does Medicare Cover Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is caused by a fungal infection of the toenails, known medically as onychomycosis. You can identify toenail fungus by the white and yellow spots covering the nail. In most cases, toenail fungus will resolve itself or after treatment with a home remedy. However, in some instances, the fungus stubbornly does not stop, spreading deep into the nail, requiring medical/podiatric attention. Today, we answer the questions of – Does Medicare Cover Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus? & is laser toenail fungus removal covered by insurance?
For patients, it raises several questions regarding funding from either Medicare or an insurance policy. We’re explaining whether Medicare covers laser treatment for toenail fungus, as well as the stance of most insurance policies. We’ll also cover when you should seek medical attention and what treatment involves.
-
Does Medicare cover laser treatment for toenail fungus?
-
Is laser toenail fungus removal covered by insurance?
-
When to seek medical attention for toenail fungus
-
How to treat toenail fungus
How And Why Do You Get This Fungal Infection In The First Place
Were all exposed to plenty of fungi and often nothing happens. Thats thanks to our immune systems. But if something weakens our immune systems or gives them an extra run for their money, the fungi may win.
So, a compromised or weakened immune system of any kind is often the culprit and increases your risk of getting a fungal toenail infection. A diabetic or someone whose blood flow to the feet is compromised, for example, weakens your bodys ability to do its thing in your toenails. An injury to the toenail can also make it tougher for your body to fight off fungi.
Men tend to get toenail fungus more than women. Its also seen more in older people if their immune system weakens. If you smoke, youre at a higher risk.
If someone in your family has it or someone you come into contact with a lot does, youre usually at a higher risk too.
Don’t Miss: What Can You Use To Remove Nail Polish
Is Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus Painful
Although laser therapy isnt painful for most people who undergo this treatment for toenail fungus, some report warmth or tingling sensations, which can be uncomfortable. There are typically minimal side effects after the treatment.
Talk to your healthcare provider to determine whether laser therapy might be the right treatment for you. Although toenail fungus isnt generally dangerous or painful for healthy people, it can spread to other toenailsand other people. Treating toenail fungus can prevent it from worsening or spreading.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Laser Treatment Over Drug Treatment
Oral antifungal medications are toxic, and may cause serious medical complications. As a result, clients that are taking these medications are asked to go through routine blood tests to make sure their liver is not damaged during the treatment.
A laser treatment is completely drug free, meaning it does not impose all the health risks associated with the oral antifungal medications. There are no adverse reactions, injuries, or known side effects from use of lasers to treat a toenail fungus infection.
Recommended Reading: How To Take Of Acrylic Nails At Home
Top Reviews From The United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Disclaimer: While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our Web site. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product. For additional information about a product, please contact the manufacturer. Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Amazon.com assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.
Cons Of Using Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus
Its Still Considered Experimental Treatment
Because few studies have been done on the efficacy of laser toenail fungus treatment and none have been done on the long-term effects of the method, it is still viewed as experimental treatment with questionable success results.
Some Argue the Treatment is Ineffective
In a recent study done with the Noveon laser, only 1/3 of patients saw results meaning treatment could be hit or miss, depending on each individual case.
Possibility for Tissue Damage in Some Cases
As with any medical treatment, there is a slight risk involved. Though it is rare, some doctors argue that there is a possibility for skin and tissue damage when the laser beam is directed to the deepest levels of the nail.
Its Expensive
Toenail fungus removal lasers two being the PinPointe FootLaser and the Cutera GenesisPlus are quite expensive for medical facilities to purchase, so the fees for patients to use them are quite high. One laser toenail fungus removal session could cost anywhere from $600 to $1500 and its a process generally not covered by health insurance.
Before deciding whether or not to try laser toenail fungus removal, be sure to consult with a podiatrist or a dermatologist about your condition. Toenail fungus comes in many forms and can look like other foot diseases and ailments, so its important to get a positive diagnosis and professional advice before spending money on expensive treatment options.
You May Like: How Do I Take Off Gel Nail Polish
