What Are The Symptoms Of Onychomycosis In The Order That They Usually Appear
- A slowly growing white dot on the toenail.
- Discoloration of the nail. Parts of the nail turn yellow, brown, and/or white.
- The nail thickens and becomes warped or twisted.
- The nail becomes so brittle that it breaks easily, or even crumbles.
- The seal between the nail and its bed is broken. The nail loosens and begin to separate.
- The nail bed becomes painful.
- An odd and/or unpleasant smell emanates from the nail.
- The same process begins in another toenail.
How Does Toenail Fungus Look Like
Diagnosing toenail fungus is not that hard. The change is visual and very obvious. To make matters even worse, the toenails will gradually deteriorate as the infestation continues. The fungus has the habit of infesting the surrounding tissue, so don’t be surprised if it starts appearing on other toenails.
Toenails will hate white, yellow, or brown discoloration, and there will be some flaky debris on or under the toenail. At one point, the whole toenail may come off. The affected area will become thicker, and its texture will change. This can also be followed by a change of shape.
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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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.
Nail Fungus Treatment Faqs
How many laser treatments are needed for toenail fungus?
Most patients only need one laser treatment to get rid of toenail fungus. In some more severe cases it may take two treatments to fully extinguish toenail fungus. 90% of patients report that their fungus is gone after one treatment.
Can you file away toenail fungus?
In most cases patients can treat toenail fungus by filing it down and maintaining the nail so that there is not room for the fungus to live and grow. There are other topical treatments that can help get rid of the fungus as well.
Does toe fungus ever go away?
Toenail fungus will not go away until it has been treated. Over time the fungus will spread and grow around your nail until the nail has been totally destroyed. It is important to treat and maintain toenail fungus if you have it.
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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
What Are The Signs And Symptoms
Initially, a white dot shows up on the nail, which increases in size with time. When fungus builds up under the nail, it can cause:
- Nail thickening or cracks
How do fungal nail infections spread?
- Fungal nail infections are often contagious from nail to nail
- Direct contact with an infected person
- Through sharing surfaces like floors, showers, socks, and shoes.
- The fungus requires warm and moist environments for growth. Public pools, shower areas, gyms, and changing rooms are the most common places for contracting a fungal nail infection.
What are the Risk Factors?
Factors that can lead to an increased risk of developing nail fungus include:
- Old age: reduced blood circulation, more years of fungus exposure, and slow nail growth
- Heavy sweats
- Walking barefoot in damp areas, like swimming pools, gyms & shower rooms
- History of a skin or nail injury or a skin condition like psoriasis
- Patients with diabetes, circulatory problems, or a weak immune system
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Can The Fungus Return Or Not Go Away
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The fungal infection is expected to improve with just one treatment. Clinical reports to date have been encouraging with most patients noticing significant improvement. As with all medical procedures, a 100% guarantee is not possible. In addition, since fungus is present everywhere in the environment, reinfection may occur. Dr. Penn will recommend preventative strategies to reduce the chance of reinfection. Changing socks and shoes frequently is helpful, as well as controlling perspiration if present.
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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.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Laser Nail Fungus Therapy
Most clients experience no side effects other than a feeling of warmth during treatment and a mild warming sensation after treatment. However, possible side effects may include a feeling of warmth and/or slight pain during treatment, redness of the treated skin around the nail lasting 24 72 hours, slight swelling of the treated skin around the nail lasting 24 72 hours, discolouration or burn marks may occur on the nail. In very rare cases, blistering of the treated skin around the nail and scarring of the treated skin around the nail may occur.
Fungal Nail Infection Laser Treatment
If youve noticed white or yellow spotting or streaking on your toenail and are worried youve picked up a fungal nail infection youre not alone!
Fungal toenail infections, medically known as onychomycosis, affect approximately 10% of the population in Australia. Unfortunately, this rate only increases as we get older, with up to 50% of people over the age of 60 having one or more nails infected.
Thankfully, My FootDr has taken advantage of the technological advancements in recent years, meaning that we can treat these fungal nail infections more effectively than ever before using anti-fungal laser treatment. This means no more daily creams, lacquers or tablets.
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What Causes Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections are caused by the infiltration of the nail bed and nail plate by a fungus. While there are many types of fungus, including those that naturally move through the air outside, the kind of fungus that causes nail infections is most often spread through direct contact with someone that is infected. These infections are often picked up in public pool areas, changing rooms, public showers and gyms because fungus thrives in warm and moist environments.
The fungus feeds on the keratin within your nails, which causes the damaged appearance. This means that once you have an infection, your sneakers and work boots can be an ideal space for the infection to grow and spread so the earlier you start treating the infection, the easier it is.
Signs that you may have nail fungus include:
- A white or yellow discolouration or streaking of the nails
- Rougher nail ridges or thickened nails
- Crumbling, flaky or brittle nails
- The nail may start to lift up and come away at the end
At Home Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus
If you have been dealing with nail fungus, you may be aware of the growing popularity of the use of lasers as a useful treatment option. What you may not know, is that now you dont have to go to a doctor or medical spa for a laser treatment. There are new, small, hand-held devices that you can use to kill the fungus yourself from the comfort of your own home. These DIY lasers rely on a particular type of intense light to kill the fungus, which is a common cause of painful, unsightly toenails. They are part of the new wave of at home laser products that can help with pain relief, skin care, anti-aging, and hair removal.
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Book Online Now Your Laser Toenail Fungus Removal Consultation With Dr Adriana Strimbu Dpm
Fungal nail affects nearly 10% of the US population.
While many find the condition to be, simply, an eye sore, fungal nail can also lead to a larger problems including:
- infection of other toenails
Individuals with diabetes are also more susceptible to fungal toenail infections given their compromised immune systems.
Toenail Fungus Is Not Contagious
This is one of the most common myths about toenail fungus, and youâll be surprised to know how wrong this concept is. Of course, toenail fungus is contagious!
Most fungal infections turn out to be contagious and can be transmitted through contact with other people. You can also get toenail fungus by sharing bathrooms, swimming pools, nail parlors, and so on.
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How Does The Therapy Go
First of all, it is necessary for a patient to have a consultation with the doctors. It has to be established whether or not this is really a case of toenail fungus. The experts may also file down the nail in order to treat it more efficiently later on. While it is really easy to deduce if you have this condition, most clinics will take a sample.
A session usually lasts around 30 minutes, and it will be performed on all affected nails. In some cases, the experts may also work on healthy nails. As previously mentioned, the fungus spreads quickly, so there is a chance it already started spreading on surrounding toenails.
The Initial Causes Does Laser Treatment Work For Toenail Fungus
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
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How Do I Know If I Have Toenail Fungus
A toenail fungal infection has a slow, eroding effect on your toenail but usually takes a while to develop and spread so you might not notice it at first.
Here are some of the toenail symptoms you may encounter:
- Change in color often the toenail turns yellow, brown, white, or eve green
- Nails become thicksometimes so thick you cant get a toenail clipper to work
- Toenail shape becomes curved, twisted, or ingrown on the sides
- Initially, a white dot may show itself which then slowly grows larger
- Toenails become brittle and break easily, sometimes they seem to crumble or get chalky
- Toenails become flaky and break off
- Sometimes the toenail has a “cottage-cheese” type substance especially under the hard-outer shell
- Toenails may loosen and separate off the nail bed occasionally they may even fall of entirely
- You get pain around the toenail as the hard, curved nail digs down into the sides
- There is a bad-cheese smell coming from your toenails
- Eventually, the fungus spreads to your other toes and even out onto the skin on your feet
If left untreated, you can develop a secondary bacterial infection and even get ulcerations, which are extremely dangerous if you are diabetic or have poor circulation. For some people, toenail fungus has even ultimately led to the surgical amputation of toes or even leg amputations.
How Does Laser Treatment Work For Fungal Nails
Clinical studies show that the laser kills toenail fungus and promotes healthy nail growth with a single treatment in better than 80% of cases. Laser treatment is safe, effective, and pain-free. Laser works by selectively targeting the fungal cells, heating them up and destroying them in the process. The surrounding healthy skin and tissues are not affected therefore you will not experience any pain. For this reason, laser treatment does not require any local anaesthesia, and there is no recovery period. Its a simple walk-in, walk-out procedure with no side effects and no visible harm to the nail or skin.
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What Is The Treatment Like For Laser Therapy Does It Hurt
When you come to Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry for Lunula laser treatment we like to make things easy. First, we have a NO CONTACT laser visit option, where you stay 6 feet away from anyone the whole time. We also have a full-service option, while stills adhering to social distancing and CDC guidelines. With this approach, you get a nail fungus evaluation including nail culture. A consultation with one of our podiatry specialists will allow you to decide which approach is best for you and have all your questions answered. Your doctor can even smooth down those ugly thick toenails to make you more comfortable and happy with your toes.