Does Fungal Nail Laser Treatment Work?

Posted by Denielpodiatrist on December 10th, 2020

Laser toenail treatment in Houston seems to gain popularity by the day. Different types of lasers use different laser energies to treat toenail fungus. Toenail fungus is the infection of the toenails by a fungus causing white or yellow spots on them. The fungal infection is hard to treat because it hides under the nail posing a challenge for treatments to penetrate through the thickened nails. The fungal infections cause the nails to look discolored, crumbly, and distorted. The nails are thick and cause discomfort during daily activities such as walking, running, and standing.

The fungus is difficult to remove and it invades the toenails through tiny cracks of the skin and hides between the nail bed and nail plate. The fungal nail laser is believed to eliminate the fungus without causing harm to the surrounding nail tissue. Clinical studies are still being undertaken, however, those already conducted have proven the treatment is viable for nail fungal treatment. Most people prefer the fungal nail laser removal because it has minimal side effects when compared to oral medication.

Facts about laser treatments

• Laser treatment takes about 10 minutes to be administered and it is painless.
• One requires several laser treatment sessions which may take 6 to 18 months.

Some cited side effects include bleeding or pain of the surrounding areas of the nail that are considered safe.

How the fungal nail laser works

The laser device emits pulses of energy in heat form. When in treatment the laser is directed to the nail where it penetrates through the nail bed to attack the fungus where it is. The type of laser treatments can be used to increase the temperature. The heat emitted attacks the infected tissue destroying the fungus and the surrounding skin. The fungus is then decomposed. The lasers are also fitted with sterilizing effects that prevent the reoccurrence of fungal growths. Since the laser is used safely the heat emitted is moderate though not enough to destroy the infection by one session of treatment. This is the reason why you should have repeat laser treatments to completely get rid of the fungal infection. This ensures that the microorganisms that survive one treatment are completely gotten rid of in the next sessions of treatment. So after just one session, noticeable changes are seen but complete curing is attained after more than one session.

Efficacy of the fungal nail laser treatment

The FDA has cleared several laser devices for nail fungus treatment. The devices have been cleared because of increased clear nails for patients affected by fungal infections. There is an increased cure rate as well with most people notice improvements in the condition after several treatments.

Laser treatments have been known to be more effective than oral antifungals. Topical treatments are safe but not effective. Podiatrists combine several nail fungus treatments to effectively treat it but for the fungal nail laser, the patient does not need to combine any treatments. A podiatrist will clip and clear the dead skin on the day of the laser procedure.