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Laser Fungal Toenail Removal! Is It Really Effective As A Long Term Treatment Option?

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laser toenail fungus removal

Podiatrists Recommend Laser Removal as the best treatment option!

Fungal nails and onychomycotic nails are a common concern, and impact more than 20 percent of people overall. They are common in 75 percent of the senior population, but for most the problem is not a painful one but rather, an embarrassing problem. Many will say it;s just icky! When a nail becomes very thickened, it may become infected, or the fungus may deform the nail causing it to become ingrown.

What Does A Fungal Infection Look Like?

A fungal infection will usually cause the nail to be yellow and discolored. The nail may also have a brown discoloration. It may also become thickened and deformed. It may also become very difficult to trim. There may also be debris that is noted beneath the nail. In severe cases, the nail may begin to lose its attachment to the nail bed.

What Is Fungus?

Fungus likes to reside in a moist dark environment, and that is where your feet are most of the time. So, it’s a good idea to always wash your feet and whenever possible, let them air out. Take your shoes and socks off when at home. Contrary to what you may have heard, the reason you get fungal toenails may have a lot more to do with your immune system’s inability to fight it rather than the environment you’re in. So dirty showers and non-hygienic pedicures may want to be avoided, but whether you get fungal nails may not be affected by this as much as you think. Also, trauma, such as losing a nail, may result in the new nail having fungus.

Laser Fungal Infection Treatment

The three treatments are topical, oral medications, and laser.

  • Topical treatments – These are by far the least effective. There are multiple over-the-counter topicals that can be used that contain various antifungal ingredients. There are even prescription topicals, but again, the effectiveness is limited because it’s difficult for the antifungal ingredients to be absorbed into the nail.
  • Oral medication – This is the second most successful option. Clinical studies show it is more effective than topical treatments. The most common oral medication is Lamisil. The problem with antifungal medications is liver toxicity. So, if it is used, it is advised that the doctor gets a liver panel study done to make sure the liver is healthy before it is used, and then get retested during treatment and discontinue if there is an abnormal lab result. Although many doctors may prescribe it, this doctor is reluctant to use it on most patients.
  • Laser treatments – This is the most successful option and has a very high cure rate. Studies show the success rate is high. There are many laser technologies used in medicine. The type of laser we use is called the pinpointe laser and was the first ever developed. It is used exclusively for laser nail fungus treatment. We have been doing laser nail treatments for 15 years. It works because the heat generated by the laser will destroy the fungus. Laser light is pulsed into the nail very rapidly and because of this, there is little to no discomfort. If the nail is thick, a special grinder is used to thin the nail. This helps the laser penetrate better into the nail bed and also may help the appearance of the nail immediately. There is no pain after treatment and no known side effects. This technology has given those with stubborn infections hope where there was none before. As nail growth is slow, it can take at least 9 months to fully grow out. The full effect of a treatment may not be fully appreciated until 9-12 months. However, some may start appreciating the clearing of the nail as soon as 4 months. Our experience tells us that everyone will need at least three treatments. Our recommendation is to have the first two treatments one month apart and the third treatment 4 months after the first one. Each treatment will last approximately 30 minutes. Lastly, the use of antifungal topicals both on the nails and skin to create a fungal-free environment between treatments.

Yes, foot fungus can be stubborn and difficult to treat. From our experience, it’s a good idea to get started early and laser therapy and find a clinic that offers laser toenail fungus removal near you. Laser technology has been shown to be very effective and has given many suffering from onychomycosis hope. Many patients are choosing this option because laser treatment for foot fungus works!

Laser Treatment – Audrey’s story Testimonial

View our Patient Testimonials on Laser Nail Foot Fungus Treatment

Corinna treated her toenail fungus with our laser treatment

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Toe nail fungus (Onychomycosis) is a common affliction. The yellow discoloration and thickening are annoying. Many call it an icky problem. At Anderson Podiatry Center we were one of the first laser treatment centers in the country. We have lots of experience and are happy to report that our patients like Corinna are happy with their results. She shares her experience in this video and you’ll to see how clear her nails are. So if you’re tired of using topical antifungal agents that are unsuccessful or are concerned about the liver toxicity of the oral medication Lamisil then consider laser.

If you’d like to see more testimonials please visit our youtube channel here.

What are the symptoms of fungal nails?

  • Thickening nails
  • Nails break or peel easily
  • Yellow or discolored appearance
  • Nail pulls away or break from the toe

How do we treat it?

The fungus in nails differs from Athlete’s foot in resistance and therefore harder to treat. Upon infecting the nail it usually gets even more demanding. Off the counter medication may not work for everyone and that is why laser treatment is effective in rectifying the problem.

Laser treatment plus points

  • Lack of pain or recovery time
  • Repeated applications for lengthy time frame or use of toxic meds
  • Specific are of the nail is targeted with no spill over to the skin or nail area
  • Immediate visual improvement due to the grinding down of thick nails to ensure the laser can reach the affected area.

Prevention

  • Always keep your toes and feet dry.
  • Shoes need to be aired out between usage.
  • Socks should be changed regularly, especially after working out or sweating.
  • Keep a separate pair of nail clippers and files
  • Use baking soda to keep your shoes dry and it also helps remove odour
  • Medical spas are better to get a manicure or pedicure since they keep all supplies sterilized and disinfected
  • While showering in a public place use sandals
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The Truth About Frustrating Toenail Fungus

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During my time in this practice I have heard toenail fungus described in many different ways, and none of them are nice.  Gross, icky, thick, brittle, deformed, disfigured, discolored nails are one of the most common foot issues that we see.  In most cases this is caused by a fungal infection of the toenails.  Studies have estimated that up to 20-25% of the general population is affected by this ailment, and possibly up to 35% of diabetics.

Fortunately, in most cases this infection doesn’t cause any other health issues, and remains confined to the toes.  For those that have this infection the main complaint is cosmetic. In some cases, however, the infected nails can lead to chronic pain due to nail thickening, or even chronic ingrown nails.

Over the years there have been many treatments attempted for this with most of them having rather dismal results.  There are more over the counter topical treatments for this then I care to count, and even more “home remedies.”  Unfortunately, these types of treatments rarely lead to much improvement in appearance, and even more rarely cure the infection.

Over the counter medication for the treatment of athlete’s foot has also been shown to have little effect. Treating this infection with oral antifungal medication has been shown to have better results than with topicals, but overall the cure rates with this medication have been disappointing.

A more recent advancement in treatment has been with laser therapy. We have been treating nail fungus with the PinPoint laser system for six years and have been very pleased with the results! This treatment involves direct laser therapy of the nails, which heats underneath the nail to a temperature that kills the fungus but does not burn or harm your toe.

For most people this procedure involves 3-4 treatments which are spaced out every three months or so. However, the toenails take up to a year to fully grow out the infected nail and replace it with healthy nail. The treatment also involves regular use of topical anti-fungals to keep your skin as free from infection as possible.

So, if you are currently wearing sockFrustrated with Toenail Funguss to the beach because you are embarrassed by your toenails, this treatment might be for you.  Please feel free to contact our office with any questions or to schedule an appointment to have your nails evaluated.  By this time next year, you may be able to ditch the socks and let your little piggies out to play again.

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Toenail Infection

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Toenail fungus causes peeled, yellow tones, and breaking toenails. It can make one feel self-conscience, especially when wearing open toed shoes. People who suffer from it often feel frustrated with the endless antifungal creams and ointments that just don’t seem to work. If this describes you, don’t worry; you are not alone and there is hope to ridding your feet of that stubborn toenail fungus.

You can encounter fungus almost anywhere, so infection is common. Fungus is most prevalent in wet, warm, damp places, such as public pools and showers, and inside close toed shoes. It also accumulates in nail salons that reuse and do not sterilize their instruments and basins between customers. So, naturally, your feet are a big target.

Also, if you are wondering why you seem to contract the infection more than others, it’s because some people are more susceptible to it than others, depending on their individual immune systems. In fact, up to 20% of the population has this condition.

Here are some facts to keep in mind:

  • Fungal infections normally develop over time so symptoms are subtle at first. Affected nail side effects include: scaling under the nail, white or yellow streaks on the nail, crumbling nails, flaky white areas and pits on the surface of the nail, yellow spots, and sometimes complete loss of the nail.
  • Fungal infections may be contagious, so if you come in contact with someone who has an infected nail you may contract an infection as well.
  • The fungi that causes nail infections is the same that causes jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm, though it is often harder to treat.
  • Fungus affects men more than women, and adults more than children.
  • Fungal nails are usually more resistant and difficult to treat- topical antifungal or oral medications work better to prevent it rather than treat it.

A fungal nail infection, though usually painless, is frustrating and very stubborn. You may feel discouraged not knowing how to rid yourself of this pesky ailment, but there are options in how to remove it as well:

  1. Laser Therapy for toenail fungus is one of the most effective ways to get rid of it. The Pinpointe Foot Laser at the Laser Nail Center at Anderson Podiatry Center is the first FDA approved laser for treating stubborn conditions. Also, unlike other multi-use lasers, our Foot Laser is specifically designed for nails and therefore has a high effective rate. We also have been treating nail fungus since 2008, longer than any other office in the area and were the first to introduce this treatment to the Rocky Mountain Region!
  2. Taking preventative measures will help ensure that once you do get rid of your condition you don’t just end up getting it again.
    1. Keep your feet and toes dry- let your shoes dry out after wearing them and change your socks when they are damp.
    2. Use antifungal cream regularly, and spray your shoes with antifungal spray to help keep any fungus on your skin or shoes at bay.
    3. Don’t share nail clippers or nail files.
    4. Don’t share your shoes or socks with other people- remember,
    5. When using a public pool or shower make sure to wear shower shoes.
    6. Ensuring you only go to spas that sanitize their basins a
      nd tools between each use.

If you have stubborn toenail fungus don’t suffer from it a day longer! Be rid of it once and for all, and enjoy wearing your summer shoes again! Come visit your podiatrist in Fort Collins or Broomfield for further consultation.