Do Laser Treatments Work For Toenail Fungus?

 Positive effects of laser therapy have been noticed for a range of conditions. Even a variety of modern laser treatments have earned FDA approval. Laser is considered a safe and effective way to treat various conditions. Laser fungal nail treatment is a relatively new field and therefore has attracted the attention of very few patients.  

Treatment of fungal organisms poses a significant challenge, even with medications and pills it takes a lot of time to treat the conditions. This sentence doesn’t make sense to me. I think it is better to leave it out)In this post, we will discuss how laser therapy works and why you should also consider getting nail fungus laser treatment. 

How does laser work on toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is a medical condition that happens when fungi enter the nail plate and colonize under the nail bed and matrix. Mild cases of toenail fungus look like thickening of the nail or discoloration, which seems a cosmetic concern at first. However, when left untreated it may lead to a painful infection which can lead to foot ulcers in diabetics or people with low immunity.

Therefore, treating toenail fungus is important to everyone. Apart from the conventional methods of topical creams and systemic medications, a modern alternative has been developed using laser therapy to kill the fungi. 

Laser treatments are given by a board certified podiatrist at a foot and nail clinic. Podiatrists are foot doctors that specialize in ingrown toenail treatment, diabetic foot care, heel pain, sore feet, gait analysis and various other conditions related to lower limbs. Certified podiatrists use a laser device that emits pulses with different wavelengths. The laser pulses only work on the targeted areas and don’t affect the surrounding nail tissues. The infected tissues get killed quickly with laser energy. For severe cases, multiple sessions are required to completely kill the microorganism and support the regrowth of a clear nail.

How effective is laser treatment?

The technology has already been used in a variety of skin disorders, cosmetic and dermatology treatments, therefore doubts about the efficacy should not be a concern. Studies show that laser therapy has a success rate of more than 95%.

The concerns about thermal laser treatments are associated with side effects and not understanding the technology. Usually, it is considered safe and free from side effects. However, some people are not able to bear the heat generated from  thermal laser devices during  treatment. Booking multiple sessions for heat torture is not a viable solution for people with a lower pain threshold. 

The good news is, thermal laser is not the only option available. You can also opt for Lunula Laser therapy. It is a cold laser therapy that is highly comfortable as no heat is produced during the treatment. The new and innovative laser device emits two types of wavelengths that provide dual effects, i.e. killing the fungi and encouraging regrowth of the clear nail.

If you can’t bear the heat and use the thermal laser at a lower heat setting, lower efficacy levels will be reported. Alternatively, those who opt for cold laser therapy don’t have to worry about uncomfortable heat generation or slower improvement and experience high levels of efficacy

To put it in other words, cold laser treatment is more effective  compared to thermal laser treatment.  

Why is laser better than conventional toenail fungus treatments?  

If you have ever experienced toenail fungus, you must have known how difficult it is to get rid of the fungi. It takes months to kill the stubborn micro-organisms.  

The conventional treatment options are topical creams or antifungal medications. The lengthy duration of the treatment is quite challenging. Taking pills for months can be harmful to your body. They might increase liver toxicity and there is always a risk of developing resistant interactions from medications. 

No matter  how many months you take those toxic pills for,  there is still a risk of reoccurrence of the problem. On the other hand, laser therapy ensures faster and more effective treatment. The laser works on the entire nail bed and nail plate so the chances of reoccurrence of the infection are almost zero.

What to expect during the laser therapy session for toenail fungus?

Laser treatments are more effective than conventional treatment options. Therefore, you can expect effective treatment to happen within a duration of 30 minutes.  That’s all it takes! One session of laser therapy can be completed within half an hour. Mild cases can be treated with 2-4 sessions and healthy nail growth can be attained within 3 months. 

In the case of severe infection, the number of required therapy sessions might increase. Choosing cold laser therapy  is a pain-free and quick method to get rid of unsightly toenail fungus.

Final thoughts

Are you looking for a reliable and safe treatment option to get rid of those yellow and crumbly toenails? Lunula Laser therapy is a quick and side effect free treatment choice. If interested, book an appointment at Suncoast Podiatry. The board certified podiatrists are renowned for the innovative cold laser therapy and minimally invasive ingrown toenail surgery. They have the experience and qualifications needed to effectively treat your toenail fungus using state of the art laser treatments.