Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus - An Alternative to Medications and Topical Products

What is Toenail Fungus

Laser therapy and treatments for a variety of medical conditions is becoming more and more common as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the use of several brands of therapeutic lasers. One such use is in the treatment of toenail fungus. The medical name is onychomycosis and it is caused by a fungus infection. The condition causes the nail to become discolored and brittle and break off into small pieces. The condition can additionally cause dermatophytids or skin lesions that become itchy and red.

The condition, while not painful, is embarrassing and certainly discourages many pastimes that require no footwear. But mostly keep in mind that this condition is contagious. There are a number of treatments available including medications and topical products, but one of the most effective is laser treatment. Depending on the type of fungus, laser treatments can be very effective to cure this disease.

What Causes Toenail Fungus

The fungus is actually a microorganism that attaches to the host (humans) under a variety of conditions. Swimming pools, hot humid areas and bad ventilation are ideal conditions for this germ, but age is also a big factor. It is more prevalent in the elderly because nails grow slower as we age and this increases the susceptibility for the disease.

Treatments for the Disease

There are a number of treatments available to combat this condition, but time is a big factor. In all cases the fungus must be eradicated and the nail must grow out naturally unhindered by the microorganism.

Anti fungal medications from pharmaceutical companies combined with topical nail products have been shown to be effective.

Natural remedies such as Vicks Vaporub and specific tree, seed and root extracts are also considered to be remedial

Laser treatment has the ability to kill the bacteria under the nail bed which allows the regrowth of the nail. This usually requires only one or two treatments, again depending on the strain of the fungus

Benefits of Laser Treatment

Therapeutic lasers such as those used by laser clinics and chiropractors are painless, safe and quick. They have the ability to direct energy in the form of light to very specific areas of the body. This concentrated light is absorbed by the pigment of the fungus. The absorption creates heat and the heat kills the microorganism causing the condition. With the root cause of the disease gone, the nail will regrow naturally unobstructed by the fungus.

Summary

The use of therapeutic lasers continues to be effective for a variety of ailments and conditions. Some of these include wound healing, acne, arthritis, rosacea even smoking cessation. An increased awareness of the power of lasers is creeping into our society and a greater education about the technology is certainly advantageous.

Alison B. Shaw is a researcher and author who specializes in the advances of therapeutic laser technology for a variety of health conditions. You can read overviews on Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus and an additional story on Fingernail Fungus. As more information about this technology is made available, society will have more options to treat a variety of diseases and health conditions.

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