Archive for the ‘Laser Treatment’ Category
How Does a Laser Treatment Remove Nail Fungus? – How does it work?
Finger and toenail fungus do not cause any ill effects. A person can ignore the symptoms of nail fungus for years before he or she decides to seek a nail fungus treatment for the condition. A number of over-the-counter remedies offer temporary solutions. Drug stores, department stores, and big box retailers sell over-the-counter nail fungus medications that remove the fungus eventually. Some people will experience a more permanent solution for their toenail fungus. Laser fungus removal is one option a person with toenail fungus may consider to remove the fungus from the nails.
Nail fungus is usually caused when the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and ringworm settles beneath the toenails. Toe and finger nails serve as an effective barrier that prevents the makes nail fungus difficult to treat. The condition is usually painless and does not cause the same amount of itching that athlete’s foot and ringworm do. Pain can result from nail fungus, but it is extremely rare. If left untreated, a sufferer may eventually lose the affected nail
Nails infected with fungus are usually discolored and yellow Over time the nails can become thicker and more difficult to cut. Nail fungus may cause a foul odor in the affected area. The most common symptom is that the nails become yellow. If an over-the-counter treatment does not work, a doctor may prescribe an anti-fungal oral medication.
The laser nail fungus removal can kill the fungus and help prevent it from coming back. The procedure is painless and takes roughly a half an hour to complete. The doctor or technician performs the surgery aims a laser at the infected toe or finger nail. The laser is adjusted so that it reaches the layers beneath the nails where the fungus grows. It does not touch the skin underneath the nail. The laser kills the fungus and prevents it from growing again. Doctors or technicians who operate these lasers must take the laser over every millimeter of the nail for full effectiveness.
The discolored nails will remain for several weeks after a laser nail fungus removal treatment. Your finger or toe nails will return to normal after several weeks. The FDA approved laser therapy for nail fungus in 2008. Like any new technology or medical treatment, it is not something the consumer should expect to pay for out-of-pocket. Currently, the treatment costs over $1000 U.S., and it is not widely available.
Laser nail fungus removal cures 88% of the patients that decide to go through it, according to Patholase, a service that offers laser nail fungus removal. This method has one of the lowest failure rates of any other type of nail fungus treatment.
Laser nail fungus treatment may be effective, but it does not guarantee that a patient will not get the fungus again. The best steps for prevention are keeping the feet dry, and avoiding wet and moist places. Change the socks and sneakers as often as possible to lower your risk of reinfection. Getting a pedicure may also lead to reinfection.