Laser Therapy and it’s Effectivenessin Treating Fungal Infections of the Toenail
Toenail fungus or onychomycosis is the most common cause for which people visit podiatrists every year. Most people reaching out to podiatrists have already tried all sorts of traditional treatments at home and have used a couple of over-the-counter topical creams to the infected nails without getting any relief from the symptoms of fungal infection affecting their toenails.
You can get toenail fungal infections from swimming pools, gyms, public showers, spas, and even from sweaty socks if not changed regularly. Sometimes the fungus only causes discoloration of the toenails while at other times it can even lead to cellulitis which is a serious infection requiring hospitalization and even amputation.
Currently, most podiatrists like Dr. Sima Soltani Podiatrist at their Orange County office are successfully using toenail laser treatment Irvine region for treatment of stubborn fungal infections that fail to respond to the traditional form of treatments. Their laser treatment is cost-effective, safe, painless, and a fast method of addressing the root cause of the problem.
Laser therapy podiatric treatment
Your podiatrist will first send a sample of the toenail or take a biopsy sample to evaluate the cause of the infection. Many times bacterial toenail infections resemble the fungal infection and do not respond to antifungals.
Once the fungal infection is confirmed, the podiatrist can determine the right form of treatment to restore the health of your infected toenail.
Toenail laser Irvine therapy utilizes a laser beam, which is a focused light beam directed towards the infected toenail. This laser beam penetrates the deeper layers of the nail bed and vaporizes the fungal growth embedded there. Within 15 minutes of targeted laser therapy, an infected toenail can be treated successfully.
Multiple toenail infections can require prolonged treatment cycles or even multiple visits. During laser treatment, the healthy nail parts and surrounding skin remains unaffected as the laser beam is focused to target only the infected areas.
Most lasers directed treatments require just one visit to the podiatrist without causing recurrence of the infection. In those who are immuno-compromised, multiple treatment sessions can be required to completely get rid of the fungus.
After the treatment is complete, you can walk back to your home almost immediately. A little tingling sensation can be felt to the nail bed during and immediately after the treatment which goes away on its own. The new nail growth can take anywhere from 6-12 months to get back to its normal appearance.
Toenail laser therapy can also be used to treat the following foot conditions:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Neuropathy
- Arthritis
- Wounds of the foot and toenails.
- Heel pain
- Sports injuries
The therapy works by reducing the amount of inflammation and pain caused by diseases, infections, or injuries and also by improving the nerve function in the affected area.
Toenail laser treatment Orange County is successfully practiced by local podiatrists to treat the infection at its roots and prevent it from spreading to the surrounding area which can become quite problematic for the patient. If you suffer from diabetes, you must be extra careful regarding any infection of the toenails or foot and visit your podiatrists regularly.
