How Can I Be Sure I Have Toenail Fungus
Hands down, the best way to determine if you have toenail fungus is to get a nail culture done by a podiatrist. If you see any of the signs Ive mentioned, just make an appointment for an evaluation. Because the infection eventually spreads to every toe, it is better to get cracking and treat it early before bigger problems come around. With toenail fungus, its either treat it and fight it away, or dont treat it and let it get worse. Sounds simple, right? Well, the choice is up to you
Early detection also improves the chances for the treatment to work more effectively and quickly before the infection spreads. Also, this early nail culture will set a baseline so that, after treatment with the laser I often take another nail culture to determine the effectiveness of the laser. There are different components to the fungal culture, and your podiatrist is the best person to discuss the results with you. Most importantly, the laser is over 90% effective for just about every type of fungus out there.
At Home Laser For Toenail Fungus
If someone is unable to go to the physician and tackling toenail fungus is a routine matter now. Then he must get a reliable home laser device to kill toenail fungus.
These are easy to use, and effective. It is a onetime investment however, it is always better to consider the physician advice before buying home laser killer device before making a purchase.
Below is our picked best home laser device for fungus removal from nails reviewed.
The Most Advanced Laser Therapy
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infection underneath the surface of the nail caused by fungi. When the tiny organisms take hold, the nail often becomes darker in color and smells foul. Debris may collect beneath the nail plate, white marks frequently appear on the nail plate, and the infection is capable of spreading to other toenails, the skin, or even the fingernails. If ignored, the infection can spread and possibly impair your ability to work or even walk. The resulting thicker nails are difficult to trim and make walking painful when wearing shoes. Onychomycosis can also be accompanied by a secondary bacterial or yeast infection in or about the nail plate.
Causes Because it is difficult to avoid contact with microscopic organisms like fungi, the toenails are especially vulnerable around damp areas where you are likely to be walking barefoot, such as swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers, for example. Injury to the nail bed may make it more susceptible to all types of infection, including fungal infection. Those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. Other contributing factors may be a history of athletes foot and excessive perspiration.
Dr. Farajian is at the forefront of laser nail care, successfully treating Onychomycosis painlessly with this new technology.
Prevention
Also Check: How To Cure Yellow Toenail Fungus
Does Medicare Cover Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus
Seniors who have chronic medical conditions or severe underlying conditions such as diabetes and immunodeficiency problems are commonly prone to get toenail fungus. If a toenail fungus is left untreated, it can cause serious issues such as pain, discomfort, and even inability to walk. One of the ways to treat this condition is through laser treatment.
If this is a treatment you are considering, one common question you may have is Does Medicare cover laser treatment for toenail fungus? In this article, we answer that question in clear, plain English. You will also find the average costs of laser treatment for toenail fungus and other helpful info.
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.
Read Also: What’s The Best Over The Counter Nail Fungus Treatment
What Causes Nail Fungus
Nail fungus develops due to a pathogen. Youre vulnerable to developing toenail fungus when you have experienced nail trauma, worn tight shoes, or are in poor health. You may be exposed to toenail fungus in community showers, such as at a gym or public pool.
Nail fungus is hard to treat because the infection exists underneath and inside the nail. Topical treatments are usually unable to reach and destroy the infection.
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.
You May Like: Why Does Nail Fungus Occur
How Much Does It Cost
The cost of toenail fungus treatment with laser technology can range from $700 to $1,500 for a treatment course. It isnt covered by the health insurance since it is considered an aesthetic procedure. However, the cost of toenail fungus laser treatment generally will range based on the severity of the infection and only your physician or a podiatrist can determine if you need the laser toenail fungus treatment and the number of the treatments necessary.
What Is Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment
Lasers have been used to treat medical conditions since way back in the 1960s, but its only in the last few years that lasers have been used as a treatment for toenail fungus.
Its a pain free, non-invasive treatment without any worrying side effects, and can either be performed by a podiatrist in a clinic or thanks to new technology- in the comfort of your own home.
And it kills toenail fungus within a matter of minutes.
Recommended Reading: Is Listerine Good For Foot Fungus
Laser Treatment Compared To Other Options
Laser treatments are typically more effective than other ways of treating onychomycosis. This infection can be treated with topical antifungal medications or oral antifungals, and there are over-the-counter, as well as prescription options. Oral antifungals cause systemic side effects and are not totally effective for curing onychomycosis. Topical treatments tend to be safe, but are not very effective.
Research shows there’s an approximately 45% improvement of onychomycosis with topical medicine and approximately 40% to 66% improvement with oral medication.
However, there does seem to be a range in the efficacy with all of these treatments. Using them consistently while avoiding side effects can be tedious. And combining treatments may be more effective than using a single treatment approach.
When Can I Expect To See Results
You may see some improvement in just a few weeks, but youll need to wait a couple of months for the nail to grow out to see better results. It takes at least six months for complete nail regrowth.
Maintaining good foot hygiene and using certain care techniques can help reduce the chance of the fungus coming back after treatment.
You May Like: How To Treat Grass Fungus Naturally
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.
Hnc Home Nail Fungus Treatment Laser Device
One of the most common benefits of purchasing a nail fungus killing laser for home, is affordability. You only have to invest in once. No need to visit the doctors again and again. It is an easy to use, fast laser machine to kill fungus.
It works on the blue laser technology to kill toenail fungus, and to enhance its effect it has the pulse laser technology, both these technologies are to bring fast therapeutic results.
Do not worry, it is not harmful for the adjacent healthy tissues. The pulse laser technology is designed in a way to kill only the damaged and effected tissues.
You can carry this machine very easily, it comes in a small backpack, a complete package with all the essentials. It comes with a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
For everyday use, you may have to recharge it, and it can be a bit annoying. But it makes sense, the laser technology requires a lot of energy for a single shot.
That is why, the battery is never enough to fulfil this need, and drains too fast but the device is really worth it.
Below is a results image of a fungus effected person for his toenail. He has captured at different times and still was using the device.
As you can clearly see the difference between first and third image. The device works really well. However it took this guy approx 28 weeks to get final good results.
Here is the final image provided by him and at that time too, he was continue on it.
All the results are clearly visible and are very much satisfying.
Features
You May Like: How Get Rid Of Fungus On Toenails
Quick Painless Affordable Safe
Beaver Valley Foot Clinic uses the latest technology, and we are right in your backyard! For Toenails Fungus Treatments Laser and
Treatment of Fungal Nails Pittsburgh, Onychomycosis, chronic pain, plantar warts.
Toenail fungus can be very embarrassing. Fortunately, there is laser treatment available for this condition. Laser treatments for toenail fungus removal were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration back in 2010. Health care professionals at Beaver Valley Foot Clinic can use several types of lasers to remove the toenail fungus. Laser treatments are popular for toenail fungus removal because they destroy and heat the harmful fungi, but they keep the healthy tissue intact.
However, the fungus will die, and the results of this procedure will become more apparent when the new nail grows out. In many cases, people only need to get one treatment before they get the results they want. Some people have to return to Beaver Valley Foot Clinic for a follow-up treatment in order to ensure the fungus is gone.
Laser treatments for toenail fungus removal can typically completed within 15 minutes. There is no drugs or anesthesia required for this treatment. Laser treatment is also painless. Additionally, laser treatment is very safe.
Laser treatment is considered a cosmetic procedure. That is why it is not covered by most health insurance plans. The cost of laser treatment can vary greatly.
Toenail Fungus Treatment Done By Doctors
Getting rid of toenail fungus will give you the confidence to expose your feet again. Our foot doctors offer unmatched expertise curing toenail fungus, since our foot doctors focus exclusively on toenail fungus removal. Our podiatrists serve Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, Boston, and over 60 other major cities. The foot doctors of Laser Nail Therapy offer state-of-the-art toenail fungus laser treatment, combined with first rate patient care. Most of our locations are open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Fungus In Garden
Happy Toes Nail Fungus Treatment Laser Device
Your toes will be happy but your toenail fungus sure wont thanks to the Happy Toes Nail Fungus Treatment Laser Device that is effective against 99.9% of different types of toenail fungus.
This painless treatment uses advanced laser technology involving two lasers with different wavelengths to attack fungus and kill it even deep under the toenail.
With an on / off button, LED light, and electrical charger, the Happy Toes device is effortless to use, and is small enough to fit neatly into your bag.
Pros
- Effective on almost all different types of fungus
- Double lasers for added effectiveness
- Convenient to use just 7 minutes a day required
- Effective even on fungus found deep under the nail
- 60 day money back warranty
Cons
How Do Fungal Nail Infections Spread
Fungal nail infections spread through direct contact with someone who is infected, or through coming in contact with the same surface they have been in contact with, like floors, showers, socks and shoes. As fungus thrives in warm and moist environments, public pool and shower areas, gyms, and changing rooms are the most common places to contract a fungal nail infection. Once you have the infection, it can grow and spread to your other nails inside your sneakers or work boots. You may also contract Athletes foot in the same way.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Know If My Toenail Fungus Is Dying
Can My Fungal Nail Infection Come Back
It can. Just like how you can stub your toe multiple times on different occasions, you may contract fungal nail infections on different occasions and from different places, too. As part of your care, we will discuss with you the best ways to keep your home environment free from fungus to limit your risk of reinfection from places like your shoes, socks and shower at home.
Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus Did Not Prove Effective
Becker and Bershow reviewed the scientific studies of laser therapy for toenail fungus and found no effective results in randomized, controlled, clinical trials. In addition, the therapy was not painless and recurrence of fungal infection was high.
However, the authors of the literature review acknowledged that reinfection is so common with nail fungus that it is possible that reinfection, not recurrence of the original infection, was responsible for the unpersuasive results.
Another study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, noted that laser treatment did not produce a cure when tested on humans with toenail fungus. The researchers noted that only one kind of laser light was tested. Nevertheless, they stated about their results: In vivo treatment did not result in onychomycosis cure meaning that the testing of laser treatment on human patients did not produce a toenail fungus cure.
Read Also: How To Eliminate Foot Fungus
How Effective Is The Q Clear Laser System
The Q Clear protocol is a significant improvement over earlier laser systems. In clinical studies, the Q Clear laser system demonstrated a 97% rate of significant clearance of each treated nail.
Most nails treated by a Q Clear laser achieve substantially complete improvement after only a single treatment. Each treatment takes only a few minutes. Theres nothing to recover from, so you immediately return to your ordinary activities. And all this without any pain or significant side effects.
Effectiveness Of Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment:
- Laser treatment for toenail fungal infections is a very effective and safe method. Still, the effectiveness varies depending on age, general health, duration, the severity of the infection, and degree of nail damage.
- Researches show up to 88% effectiveness though we expect around 50-78% to be more reflective overall.
- The nail can be removed and treated as the new one grows back in some persistent or severely infected nails.
Cost:
- The amount for treatment is typically charged per foot. This includes follow-up evaluation and treatment if required, within a period of 1 to 3 months.
- The per-foot cost is on average $600 for a 3-month plan and $800 for both feet. If the nails are to be removed, then an additional $100 depending on the number of nails to be removed
Also Check: How To Cure Foot Nail Fungus