What is Toenail Fungus?

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Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the toenail. It is caused by a microscopic organism called dermatophyte fungus. Fungal infections are more likely to happen in toenails than in the fingernails as toenails are confined in shoes where they get a dark, warm, moist environment where they grow well.

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As the infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nails to discolor, thicken, and crumble at the edge. If left untreated, this infection could spread to other toenails, skin, or even your fingernails.

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Fortunately, fungal toenails aren’t typically painful. But leaving them to their own devices can lead to complications, including permanent toenail damage and infections that spread to other areas of your body. 

To avoid these potential problems, it’s important to address your toenail fungus quickly with our expert, especially if you have other high-risk health factors. 

How Do You Get Toenail Fungus?

Fungus thrives in damp, moist environments. Pools, hot tubs, saunas, and showers are all places where you can pick up a nasty case of toenail fungus -- particularly if they're shared or public facilities. You can also end up with toenail fungus if you wear sweaty socks or shoes for too long. You might not notice you have a problem at first, as toenail fungus usually starts out as a small yellow spot under your toenails. However, over time the fungus will spread, ultimately thickening the toenail while simultaneously causing it to become fragile or cracked. It can even spread from under the nail and onto the surrounding skin of your toes and foot, at which point the condition isn't just toenail fungus, but also athlete's foot.

How Can You Prevent Toenail Fungus?

Sometimes, it's tough to prevent a case of toenail fungus if you simply happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but in general, practicing good hygiene can help ward off an infection. Try to dry off your feet after they get wet, and if you're in a damp, public area, wear flip flops to prevent your feet from coming into direct contact with a potentially dirty or contaminated surface. If you don't have flip flops or shoes, don't forget to wash your feet after you've been barefoot in a public area.

Clipping your toenails in order to keep them short makes it easier to keep them clean as well, but don't share nail clippers with other people, as this can also transfer the types of fungus that can cause an infection. In addition, if you go to a nail salon, be sure it's a reputable and certified facility that cleans and sterilizes its tools after each use.

How is Toenail Fungus Treated?

There are a number of courses of action to help eliminate toenail fungus, but they vary in their effectiveness. Some individuals like to use a topical antifungal cream, but the results aren't always satisfactory. A more reliable method is an oral antifungal medication such as terbinafine (more commonly known by its brand name of Lamisil). However, this can take roughly 12 weeks to clear up toenail fungus, and the appearance of the nails often leaves something to be desired. As a result, more and more patients are opting for laser treatment.

Why is Laser Treatment So Beneficial?

Laser treatment for toenail fungus is the sure-fire way to clear up the unsightly appearance brought on by the fungus and return your feet to their normal appearance. It penetrates beneath the surface of your toenail and kills the underlying fungus without causing any damage to the surrounding areas of the toe or nail. Each laser session only lasts 10 minutes, and the procedure is pain-free. It usually only takes three treatments to completely solve the problem, and there is no recovery time after each session.

Laser treatment will completely destroy the fungus under your nails and stop it from spreading. Once your nail grows out, it will return to its original, natural, and healthy clear appearance.

How Does Laser Treatment Work?

In simplified terms, the laser therapy device shines a laser light into the toenail, penetrating down on, in, and through the nail to reach the fungus. It “vaporizes the fungus.” It also leaves the skin and tissue around the fungus alone. Essentially, the laser device is set at a certain wavelength that only the fungus will absorb. When it penetrates the fungus, it destroys it.

If we want to get a little more technical, there are a few ways it can destroy fungus depending on the laser. Most lasers use photothermolysis that causes photomechanical or photothermal damage. We like the non-thermal laser therapy as it is pain-free since it doesn’t use heat. It is still absorbed by the fungus only and damages the structure of the fungus. But what you need to know is that laser therapy has been proven effective in clinical trials and because of this, the FDA began clearing laser devices.

As with all the treatments, you won’t see the results right away. You have to wait until your nice fungus-free nail grows in. This will take months. But you’ll start to see the difference as the new nail comes in.

Why is Laser Therapy Better Than Other Therapies?

Among other reasons, laser therapy is better than other therapies because it is safe. It doesn’t have any of the side effects that come with the antifungals. It also doesn’t have the drug interactions that the oral antifungals can have. It’s a great option for people that are taking the drugs that interact with the orals or that can’t tolerate the side effects.

The treatment is pain-free and easy. Expect to spend 12 minutes on treating each of your feet once you arrive in our office. And the best perk of all is that the laser can get in through your nail to where that fungus is hiding and get rid of it quickly.

Conclusion

Laser treatment for toenail fungus is an innovative approach that offers hope to those struggling with this persistent problem. It provides a non-invasive, quick, and relatively painless alternative to traditional treatments. While it boasts a high success rate and minimal side effects, it is essential to consult with a foot doctor professional to determine if laser treatment is the right choice for you. Additionally, maintaining good foot hygiene and taking preventive measures can help reduce the risk of recurrent infections. With ongoing research and advancements in technology, laser treatment may continue to evolve as a promising solution for toenail fungus in the years.

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