Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is an infection that forms beneath the surface of your nail. The infection can lead to symptoms such as color, smell, and textural changes in your toenail. In some cases, the nail thickens; other times, it begins to crumble.

Aside from aesthetic concerns, toenail fungus is infectious. So you need to treat this condition, or it can spread to your other nails, or even to other members of the family.  Unfortunately, it can take a long time to clear up fungal toenail infections. Luckily, laser treatment for toenail fungus can speed up the process. And that's why we offer this treatment option in our Lost Mountain podiatry practice in Powder Springs, GA.

Why Choose Laser Nail Fungus Treatment

Traditional toenail fungus treatments involved oral or topical medications. But many patients take other medications that interact with oral medications, such as cholesterol medications. Plus, oral medications can cause rashes, loss of taste, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and other unpleasant side effects, leading many to choose laser treatment instead. They are also not safe for anyone with liver issues, including hepatitis, jaundice, or cirrhosis. And topical medications have a low rate of effectiveness in clearing fungal infections. Even if they did deliver results, the treatment period was long and frustrating.

Because of that, laser treatment for toenail fungus is now the most effective option. In fact, research suggests that up to 90% of patients resolve their toenail fungus with laser therapy. Why is this treatment option more effective? The laser directly targets the layers of your nail that contain fungal particles. In doing so, they can kill off the fungus at its source, resolving your infection and restoring the appearance of your healthy toenail.

What to Expect

When you choose laser therapy for toenail fungus, each treatment session should last about 15 minutes. This is a safe and effective treatment option, that causes little if any discomfort. In order to resolve your toenail fungus, you will need a series of 3 laser treatments. Some patients may need another treatment session, as clinical results may vary. We will discuss your course of treatment when you come in for a consultation.

Even once we've resolved your toenail fungus with laser therapy, it will take time to see the visual results in your toenail. If your nail has crumbled or deformed, it can take as long as 18 months for the new, healthy nail to regrow. But if your nail is mostly intact, you should expect to see results about two months after your first laser therapy session.