Wednesday, September 18, 2013

General Information About Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus

By Gloria Mason


Today, many health facilities offer laser treatment for toenail fungus. The beam zaps away all the fungi responsible for damaging the appearance of nails. This technique is widely used since it helps individuals avoid complications that may occur when oral medications are used. There are various causes of this problem. Heredity plays a significant role in the occurrence of this problem. Other situations that increase the susceptibility of an individual include aging, circulation problems, perspiring heavily, diabetes, psoriasis and minor injuries of the skin and nails.

Mild forms of this condition are treated as simple cosmetic problems but if allowed to persist the fungus may cause several challenges. The nails usually grow abnormally making it difficult to walk comfortably. This treatment is better than oral medications which are often associated with certain risks such as liver damage, nail lacquer and poor efficacy.

There are a number of things that can be done to prevent fungus recurrence. It is important to follow a scrupulous hygiene program. Preventive care involves the regular use of an anti-fungal spray for the feet and shoes, keeping feet clean and dry, avoiding going barefoot and changing socks on a daily basis.

The recommended approach to this problem is to consult a skin specialist (dermatologist) or a medical expert specializing in foot conditions. These specialists provide useful information about the cost, potential complications, follow up care required, medications needed among others. It is a good idea to prepare very well for any appointment with these specialists. This may involve preparing questions in advance, listing current symptoms, key personal information, and any medications being used. .

A thorough diagnosis is necessary to examine the condition of nails. This is performed by scraping debris from the nails which is then analyzed by performing a number of tests. It may be examined under a microscope or cultured to establish the underlying cause of this problem. This is because nail infections may also occur due to infections by bacteria or yeast. Psoriasis has similar symptoms as fungal infections.

The procedure is done on an outpatient basis. The surface of the infected nail is filed to enhance the penetration of the beam. During the procedure itself, patients experience mild pinpricks, a warming sensation and no discomfort whatsoever. It produces no known side effects and patients are able to resume with their regular activities immediately. The number of sessions required varies from one patient to another.

The treatment session lasts for almost one hour depending on the number of affected toes. The number of sessions required by each patient varies according to the severity of each case as well as the nature of laser used. Many patients take a whole year to recover from the problem entirely. It hinders the action of the fungus thus providing a suitable environment for the action of the natural mechanism.

Laser treatment for toenail fungus has proved to be a major success in the field of podiatry and dermatology. It offers greater efficiency than conventional oral and topical medications. It is safe and helps medical experts to eliminate the problem permanently without causing any complications in the surrounding areas of the skin. The results obtained can be maintained through follow up care, good hygiene and the use of topical anti-fungal creams.




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