Laser treatment of toenail fungus
Onychomycosis is a nail disease caused by fungi or yeast. It is a mycotic affection of the nail plates or nail beds. The most common manifestation is hardening, thickening of the nail, yellow discoloration or fraying of the nail.
Nail fungus mainly affects toenails - up to 4 times more often than on the hands. If the fungal disease is not addressed, the cuticle around the nail can become inflamed and very painful over time.
Laser treatment is currently the most effective method of removing nail fungus, with up to a 90% success rate, as opposed to home treatment with over-the-counter creams or solutions
At eveclinic, we use the CoolBreeze laser to treat nail fungus, which is one of the highest quality lasers for treating onychomycosis.
How is the treatment performed?
During the treatment, the nail and the nail bed are irradiated with a 1320nm laser. The treated area is heated to a temperature between 45°C and 60°C. This kills the fungus.
The temperature of the laser beam is gradually increased during the treatment - the treatment starts at 45°C and gradually increases to 60°C. During the laser treatment, the client may feel heat and burning.
For the treatment to be effective, a series of at least six consecutive treatments at 14-day intervals is required. In cases where the degree of damage to the nail bed is high and the problem is longstanding, the number of treatments required may be higher.
After successful treatment, a new undamaged nail will begin to grow. Depending on the rate of growth, it can take between 2 and 6 months to fully recover.
Benefits of nail treatment with the CoolBreeze laser
- Treatment is quick – to treat the nails of both feet takes about 15 minutes.
- 1-2 treatments are usually enough to get rid of the nail fungus.
- You do not need to apply creams with an uncertain effect over a long period.
- You do not need to take oral medications that often have undesirable side effects.
- After laser treatment, the overall appearance of the nail will be improved.
Before treatment – what to know and how to prepare
In order for the laser treatment of onychomycosis to be effective, it is very important that the client DOES NOT USE any over-the-counter onychomycosis treatment (over-the-counter creams or solutions) or take any oral medications for onychomycosis for at least one week before the treatment, during the treatment and for at least one week after the last treatment. The active ingredients in these medications may interfere with laser therapy.
It is important that before laser treatment of onychomycosis begins, the client informs the medical staff not only about the medications or treatments for onychomycosis that he/she is taking, but also about other medications that he/she has been taking for a long time. Some of these may be a contraindication to the CoolBreeze laser treatment.
