Laser Fungus Treatment Effectiveness

How effective is laser treatment for toenail fungus.

Laser fungus treatment effectiveness. Sinai and director of the juva skin laser center in new york ny. According to harvard medical school toenail fungus laser treatment is a painless process with no known side effects. Since 2010 more than a handful of laser devices have been fda approved and are used with success by podiatrists as a safe quick effective form of treatment. Laser treatment of toenail fungus success rate the past treatment option with anti fungal medications seems undesirable because they do not penetrate deep enough in order to eradicate the fungus.

Katz clinical professor at the icahn school of medicine at mt. Laser treatment is expensive a full treatment series runs around 1 000 and it isn t usually covered by health insurance. Two lasers using different types of laser energy have attracted attention as treatments for fungal infection of the toenails a condition called onychomycosis pronounced oh nee koh my koh sis which can also affect the fingernails. The q clear protocol is a significant improvement over earlier laser systems.

But what is the process if you use laser therapy for toenail fungus and what can you expect you ask. Most people need a series of laser treatments for the best results. Most nails treated by a q clear laser achieve substantially complete improvement after only a single treatment. Only hot lasers work because it is the heat from the laser that destroys the fungus concludes dr.

There is not a great deal of published data on this treatment and only one laser machine is currently fda approved for this primary purpose. Fungal nail infections can be difficult to treat. Laser therapy is a treatment for toenail fungus infection onychomycosis a hard to treat infection that changes the appearance and texture of the nail there are several types of laser treatment options including those that use light and those that use carbon dioxide co2. The theory is that a precisely directed laser can eliminate the fungus without harming the surrounding nail tissue.

Talk with your doctor if self care strategies and over the counter nonprescription products haven t helped. Since the 1960s the laser has been used to treat various medical conditions. Topical medications are only 10 effective while the oral medications are 30 effective with toxic effects on the liver and kidneys. In clinical studies the q clear laser system demonstrated a 97 rate of significant clearance of each treated nail.

It can take months to see results. Treatment depends on the severity of your condition and the type of fungus causing it. Toenail fungus is very difficult to eradicate. Even when effective it s not uncommon for the fungus to return.

Recently lasers are being used to treat toenail fungus. It can be either performed in a clinic. How effective is the q clear laser system.