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Laser Therapy for Onychomycosis (fungus nails)
You no longer need to be self-conscious to wear open-toe shoes and sandals, or to just go barefoot, because of toenail fungus or discoloration.
Foot and Ankle Laser Centers is the area’s leader in restoring nails back to health, and a clearer, healthier appearance.
Class IV laser therapy is one of the most safe and effective ways to treat onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus.
Laser therapy penetrates the nail bed and kills the fungus living underneath the nail, without pain and without any side effects.
When the colony of fungus under the nail is “attacked” by the laser, the elements that make it grow and thrive are destroyed. This allows your nail bed to begin growing a new, healthy nail.
Combination therapy is the key to treating nail fungus. The laser center uses either a combination of laser treatment and topical medicine, or laser treatment and oral medication. This statistically increases the success rate of resolving nail fungus. The secret to successful treatment is adding laser therapy to the treatment plan.
Foot and Ankle Laser Centers offers their unique T-L-C treatment protocol when treating nail fungus: Thorough evaluation, Laser treatment and Comprehensive prevention.
What is Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection that can lead to discomfort, discoloration and thickening of the nails. With more than 200 different types of fungus prevalent in the environment, this condition affects millions of people each year and is very difficult to treat.
Fungus is easily spread. Onychomycosis can be readily contracted by going barefoot in shared bathroom space, public locker rooms, showers, and pools. Chronic athlete's foot, which is a fungal infection of the skin, can also lead to fungal infection of the nails.
Symptoms of onychomycosis include:
- yellow or other discoloration of your toenails
- thickened or brittle toenails
- an unpleasant odor coming from the nail area
- pain
It is common to not only feel the discomfort onychomycosis causes but to endure embarrassment due to the unsightly appearance of the infected nails.
Onychomycosis affects nearly 10% of the US population, and while many people find the condition to be simply an eye sore, fungus nail infections can also lead to a larger problems including:
- infection of other toenails
- infecting friends and family
- increased pain
- ingrown toenails
Individuals with diabetes are also more susceptible to onychomycosis given their compromised immune systems.
Laser therapy offers an effective, safe option for treating onychomycosis without the side effects of oral medications which can affect the liver.
Laser Therapy for Pain Management
With 26 bones in each foot, as well as major ligaments, tendons, joints, and nerves – it’s not surprising that millions of Americans suffer various types of foot and ankle pain. Class IV laser therapy is used for the relief of pain, to accelerate healing and decrease inflammation. When the light source is placed against the skin, photons penetrate several centimeters down and are absorbed by the mitochondria (the energy producing part of a cell). This energy results in the restoration of normal cell function. The main goal of laser therapy is to stimulate the cell to perform its natural functions, but at an enhanced rate. Laser therapy is a quick and easy treatment allowing patients to relax during the procedure. In contrast to “cold lasers,” which provide no feeling or sensation, high power diode laser therapy provides a warm, soothing feeling. Some of the most common sources of foot pain that can be treated with laser therapy include:
*Plantar fasciitis – which often creates moderate to severe heel pain
*Tendonitis including...Achilles tendonitis, Posterior tendonitis (tendonitis affecting the midfoot and arch), Peroneal tendonitis
*Ankle sprains Neuroma (or a pinched nerve)
*Arthritis and inflammation
*Metatarsalgia (ball of foot pain)
*Post surgical pain
Any one of these conditions can create chronic (long-term) pain or acute (short-term) pain.