What Is The Recovery Period After The Laser Treatment
No post treatment pain has been reported. You may resume all normal activities immediately. As previously mentioned, full recovery of the toenail could take nine to twelve months, but no pain, discomfort, or disruption of normal activities should occur in that recovery period. If you have any problems or questions, please contact A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Center immediately.
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When Can I Expect To See Results
You can expect to see some improvement within a few weeks, but it will be a couple of months before you really begin to see permanent results, as full nail regrowth typically happens within six to twelve months.
Following the treatment, it is best that you aim to maintain proper foot hygiene among other additional foot care practices , as this will help prevent the fungus from coming back during the healing.
How Did I Get Toenail Fungus To Begin With
Fungus is everywhere and most of the time thats not a problem. Our immune system is pretty good at fighting off any infections. However, when the immune system is weakened, such as with diabetes, chronic illness, and other diseases, then fungus has the ability to easily set up shop. So, a weakened immune system is often the culprit and increases your risk of getting a fungal toenail infection. In diabetes or vascular disease, where blood flow is not that ideal going down to the toes, the fungus will often become a problem.
Furthermore, a good percentage of the population is simply more susceptible to fungus infections. This is something you may inherit from your parents and have no control over. So if your mom, dad, or aunt Edna have always had those awful, thick, yellow toenails, then there is a good chance you may eventually get them too .
Guys may tend to get toenail fungus more than ladies, and older people tend to get toenail fungus simply because there has been more time on this planet for those toenails to be exposed to the fungus
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What Are Other Treatment Options For Toenail Fungus
Common treatment options for toenail fungus include taking oral medications, applying topical antifungal medications, or a combination of both. Medications prescribed be a podiatrist offer a higher rate of success. Patients who don’t respond to prescription medicines may need to undergo laser toenail fungus therapy to effectively treat the toenail fungus.
Which Fungus Causes Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections can be caused by a variety of fungal organisms. The most common type of fungus is called a dermatophyte, a group of fungi that require keratin for growth. Nail infections can also be caused by different yeasts and moulds.
Sometimes, a nail that appears to have a fungal nail infection is actually suffering from a different problem instead, like psoriasis. Your My FootDr podiatrist will help make this important difference and prevent you from wasting time and money treating the wrong condition.
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Does Laser Toenail Fungus Removal Work A 2020 Review
There have been a number of lasers on the market varying in type and by wavelength. Over the years there have been many laser companies claiming that they have good results. Still, to date there is no actual single protocol for laser toenail fungus treatments. The treatments vary by the company and by each individual doctor. As a result, there have been no solid studies to prove that the laser can cure toenail fungus. As a matter of fact, the FDA clearance for laser machines states that it is for temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis.
With so many types of lasers and so many different treatment protocols, there truly is no way of knowing which types of lasers have better results and which protocols are best. In addition, there are no true studies to confirm the laser treatment effectiveness. When you combine all of that with the cost of laser treatments, it is difficult to recommend laser treatments for toenail fungus at this time. As noted in the studies above, traditional treatments were as good or better than laser therapy alone. There are many other treatments available to help with this condition.
Here at Gentle Foot Care Clinic, we will wait to see if new evidence supports the use of laser. At this time, we have found that it is not in your best interest to seek laser treatment and we will continue to offer traditional treatments for toenail fungus.
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How Effective Is Laser Therapy For Toenail Fungus
About 10 percent of U.S. adults, or approximately 23 million people, suffer from toenail fungus infection. But unfortunately, the treatments that have been around a while oral medications and topical creams often dont really do the trick. The fungus usually comes back within 12 months. Plus, these treatments can have negative side effects and may have a bad interaction with other medications.
Luckily, laser therapy for toenail fungus is now an option. Since 2010, more than a handful of laser devices have been FDA approved and are used with success by podiatrists as a safe, quick, effective form of treatment.
But what is the process if you use laser therapy for toenail fungus and what can you expect, you ask?
To answer your questions, weve put together some basics on toenail fungus and laser treatment. Keep reading for a quick overview, and then, give it a try to see how it works for you. Our goal and the purpose of laser therapy is to help you clear up those nails so they can grow back healthy and strong.
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How Do We Treat Fungal Nail Infections
We no longer recommend the use of creams, lacquers or sprays on their own because of the poor results from both clinical studies and our experience. Instead, we use two different types of laser to safely and effectively help treat fungal nail infections with minimal hassle for you.
We have both hot and cold laser available at different clinics, and your podiatrist will recommend the best treatment option for you based on your symptoms and severity.
What Types Of Treatments Are Available For Toenail Fungus
Until recently, toenail fungus treatment had been limited to topical anti-fungal creams/nail lacquer and oral medication. With limited success and many downsides, these treatments have become secondary to the more effective laser treatments.
The antifungal cream/lacquer has the lowest success rate, ranging from 5-12% . Unless you have extremely mild toenail fungus, topical treatments are very unlikely to effectively penetrate into, underneath, and around the affected toenail.
Prescribed oral medications work somewhat better . Howeverand this is big, however oral antifungal medications have significant medical risks and often interreact with other prescription drugs. Oral medications should not be prescribed without consulting a primary care physician, in order to ensure safety and protection during the months you would be taking these pills.
Side effects might include liver failure, rash, loss of taste, or change of taste , headaches, stomach discomfort, and lupus-like symptoms.
Topical medications require daily applications for at least a year, and often longer. Even then, a lifetime of application on some level is required to prevent a recurrence. Oral medications, similarly, require several months of pills and are usually associated with recurrence at some point afterward.
Studies show the success in clearing fungal infection through laser treatment was good enough for laser treatment to be FDA cleared and is now considered the ideal method to treat onychomycosis.
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How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
Laser treatment is the treatment of choice for toenail fungus today. In the past, treatment involved either costly oral medication or topical ointments. Both options can have significant side effects, so laser treatment for toenail fungus was developed in an effort to find a more effective treatment.
How Do Toenail Laser Treatments Work
Our foot doctors use a Q-Switched Nd YAG laser, which is one of the most advanced dermatology lasers currently available. In 3/10 billionths of a second, impulses of high-powered laser energy passes through the nail, nail bed, and nail growth area with typically no damage to the nail or surrounding skin. At the time of the procedure, no visible change is seen until the nail begins to grow out. In a few months, a more normal nail is expected to appear with complete regrowth of the nail taking up to nine to twelve months.
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How Does It Work
Laser treatment for toenail fungus works by aiming a 1064nm wave-length laser at the affected area.
The laser delivers light energy to gently heat the toenail bed and kill the toenail fungus and the fungal spores that spread the fungus.
It does this by attacking the fungus in two ways by altering the cellular metabolism of the fungus and damaging the cell components, and with a photo-chemical effect that further damages fungal cell enzymes, proteins and membranes.
In a nutshell? It literally zaps that pesky fungus out of existence.
After the laser treatment takes place and the fungus is killed it requires a little patience to see the results.
The damaged toenail needs to grow out and be replaced by a healthy, fungus free nail, which can take anything from 3 months to a year depending on how much of the toenail was affected.
Take a look at this video to see exactly whats happening under the nail:
DIY laser treatment works a little differently.
In order to be safe, the lasers in the home devices are a pulse laser with a shorter wavelength of around 900 nm which isnt powerful enough to heat the flesh but is still capable of penetrating beneath the surface into the skin tissue.
This is usually coupled with a blue light which works on fighting the fungus cells found on the outer surface of the nail helps to stop the fungus from affecting other toes in the area.
How Much Does Laser Treatment Cost
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The cost varies depending on the number of nails involved and severity of the infection. The national average for laser treatment is between $500 and $1200. However, since our practice offers the most state-of the-art laser equipment, we can provide the most effective treatment in less time and at a reduced cost. Our fees range between $295 and $565. A free consultation can be provided to determine if you are a good candidate for laser treatment. Please refer to our fee schedule for costs. The charges are based on the number of nails with obvious involvement. Follow up visits are provided during the first year at no charge. Payment plans are available through CareCredit.
Schedule an consultation with Advanced Podiatry Services for a complete evaluation.
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Regularly Disinfect Your Common Areas
Toenail fungus can be contagious, and can be transmitted from athletes foot. Regularly disinfect common areas so that you dont accidentally spread the fungus.
Start by scrubbing your shower and use bleach-based cleaners to cleanse it fully. Use an antibacterial spray for your shoes and wash out your socks with bleach and hot water to kill fungi.
Make sure to wash your feet daily and dry them off afterward. Youll want to make sure that the tight areas that can get trapped by moisture are also dried off.
How Laser Toenail Fungus Removal Works
The laser device is equipped with a handpiece that transmits laser energy to the targeted toenail, where it heats and destroys fungi. This energy is set to a specific wavelength. The lasers wavelength and the precision of the device ensure that the fungi are targeted and destroyed without causing damage to the surrounding healthy tissues.
Laser toenail fungus removal does not require anesthesia, because the treatment produces no pain or discomfort, only a warm sensation in the targeted area. Any nail polish will need to be removed to allow for better penetration. The treatment typically takes around 20 minutes to complete, depending on the number of toes that require treatment.
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Cost Of Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus
The first thing after hearing about the Laser treatment for fungus removal that comes to ones mind is that how much does laser toenail fungus removal cost.
And the only thing that is not suitable for those who are not ready to pay a huge amount is the price.
The laser toenail fungus removal cost will be around 700 Dollars. In some cases, if you are going for some extra treatments the amount may increase.
How Do You Get Nail Fungus
- Everyone is at risk for developing nail fungus however it is more common in:
- People who are elderly or who have poor health.
- People who go barefoot in public places such public showers, gyms and swimming pools.
- People that get pedicures in spas that dont sterilize their instrument or use the nail polishes on multiple clients.
- People that have a history of fungal skin infections of the feet
- People who have hot, sweaty or moist feet
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How Can I Avoid Re
Careful steps must be taken to avoid re-infection such as:
- Treat shoes & skin with anti-fungal agents.
- Apply anti-fungal creams to and between toes.
- Use a anti-fungal powder if your feet sweat excessively.
- Bring clean socks and a change of shoes to wear after treatment.
- Keep your nails trimmed and clean.
- Sanitize stainless nail instruments by boiling in water for minimum 15 minutes.
- Avoid salons where equipment and instruments not properly sanitized.
- Wear flip flops in public places.
- Avoid wearing the same pair of socks and footwear on consecutive days.
- Kill fungus on footwear by placing it in a sealed plastic bag into deep freeze for 2 days.
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.
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Benefits Of Laser Toenail Fungus Therapy
Patients who decide to undergo laser therapy to treat toenail fungus often do so after learning about the many benefits that come with choosing this common laser procedure. Once a patients treatment session is over they can expect their toenail to begin growing healthy nail tissue within a matter of weeks.
- Heat Kills The Fungus. The main benefit that comes with undergoing laser treatment is that lasers completely destroy the fungus. The heat generated from the laser immediately eliminates the fungus, making this an extremely efficient treatment option for healing fungus in a patients toenails.
- Little Discomfort. The process of performing laser toenail fungus removal is one that causes very little, if any discomfort to the patient. Patients who do experience any level of discomfort often does so within the first 48 hours after undergoing the laser procedure. Laser therapy doesn’t require patients to take anesthesia.
- Simple Procedure. Laser treatments take between 5 and 15 minutes to perform, depending on the patients overall severity. Many patients only require one treatment to experience successful results. Patients who need more than one treatment must wait 30 days between treatments.
- Quick Recovery Time.Patients can expect to recover from undergoing laser therapy within 2 weeks. Patients have the ability to recover quickly as using a laser to treat toenail fungus reduces the amount of swelling and helps to minimize the formation of scar tissue.
Evla Endovenous Laser Ablation Of Varicose Veins
Endovenous laser ablation goes under several proprietary names e.g. EVLT, ELVes, VeinSeal, depending on the manufacturer of the laser. We use the general term EVLA for Endovenous Laser Ablation, as all the various types of laser ablation are essentially the same.
EVLA is a new method of treating varicose veins without surgery. Instead of tying and removing the abnormal veins, they are heated by a laser. The heat kills the walls of the veins and the body then naturally absorbs the dead tissue and the abnormal veins are destroyed. It can be carried out in a simple treatment room rather than an operating theatre. EVLA is performed under local anaesthetic as a Walk-in, walk-out technique.
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Preventions After Laser Treatment For Toenail
If you wish to stay safe in the future too and want to secure your money, then keep yourself safe from further future fungal infections.
Here is what you can do to keep yourself safe.
- Wet feet can cause toenail fungus, you must dry your feet with towel or tissue papers after a wash. Moisture can invite the fungus present on your skin. You must have noticed that when we stay in bath for a prolonged period, the skin of our nails swells, and this is when the fungus tries to sweep in.
- Change your socks if you experience a lot of sweat on your feet. You must prefer wearing synthetic socks over cotton socks in such cases.
- Do not wear tight shoes, always wear shoes with a breathable material.
- Always use the anti-fungal spray in summer, it would not cost you much.
- Do not try to cover your nail with nail polish once it gets infected. It will worsen it.
- Do not cut your skin around your nails as it is the natural protective barrier.
