It is a very common problem. You probably know at least one person who suffers with this condition. There have been some very promising results with laser treatment for toenail fungus. Although it is a relatively new procedure, it seems to be quite successful so far.
This toe fungus can make the whole foot look quite ugly. The nails often are discolored, hard, and thick. Sometimes, they even get very soft and will peel or crumble. Some people end up losing the entire toenail. The condition seems to occur most often in the elderly. Men seem to have it more often than women.
The particular fungi that cause this condition are called dermatophytes. They tend to thrive in moist environments like the bath or the gym. It can affect one or several nails at the same time. It usually first appears as a small white spot. It can then quickly spread.
In the past both topical and oral medication have been used to treat this nail condition. However, neither approach has been really successful. The oral medications tend to work only about 50 percent of the time. The topical application is even less effective working an average of only 10 percent of the time. The condition also has a tendency to reoccur in many patients.
Fortunately, there have been some very positive preliminary results using lasers. A special type of laser is used for a short period of time. It acts by heating the fungi to vaporize and kill it. Different wavelengths can be used depending on the patient, and the severity of the problem.
The good news is that no adverse side effects seem to occur when this technique is used. In contrast, the oral medications did have some negative effects on some patients. This procedure can be done in the doctor's office. It usually takes approximately 20 minutes. Another positive is that neither the nail nor the toe is damaged when this technique is used. Shoes can be worn immediately after the procedure is done. Some more severe cases may take more than one treatment. The doctor should discuss this with you in advance.
Unfortunately, most medical insurances do not cover the cost for this procedure. They usually consider it to be a cosmetic condition rather than a medical one. You will need to discuss the cost with the doctor before the process begins.
There is good news when choosing laser treatment for toenail fungus. The statistics so for are very good. Approximately ninety percent of patients using this technique have had positive results. Even when the fungi goes away, however, it may still take a while for the new healthy nail to grow back. Some patients using the oral and/or topical medications saw the condition reoccur. Since this is such a new technique, it is still unclear whether or not this regrowth will appear with these patients. It may or may not be a long term solution. The results, so far, are quite promising. Be sure to discuss any questions you have with your doctor.
This toe fungus can make the whole foot look quite ugly. The nails often are discolored, hard, and thick. Sometimes, they even get very soft and will peel or crumble. Some people end up losing the entire toenail. The condition seems to occur most often in the elderly. Men seem to have it more often than women.
The particular fungi that cause this condition are called dermatophytes. They tend to thrive in moist environments like the bath or the gym. It can affect one or several nails at the same time. It usually first appears as a small white spot. It can then quickly spread.
In the past both topical and oral medication have been used to treat this nail condition. However, neither approach has been really successful. The oral medications tend to work only about 50 percent of the time. The topical application is even less effective working an average of only 10 percent of the time. The condition also has a tendency to reoccur in many patients.
Fortunately, there have been some very positive preliminary results using lasers. A special type of laser is used for a short period of time. It acts by heating the fungi to vaporize and kill it. Different wavelengths can be used depending on the patient, and the severity of the problem.
The good news is that no adverse side effects seem to occur when this technique is used. In contrast, the oral medications did have some negative effects on some patients. This procedure can be done in the doctor's office. It usually takes approximately 20 minutes. Another positive is that neither the nail nor the toe is damaged when this technique is used. Shoes can be worn immediately after the procedure is done. Some more severe cases may take more than one treatment. The doctor should discuss this with you in advance.
Unfortunately, most medical insurances do not cover the cost for this procedure. They usually consider it to be a cosmetic condition rather than a medical one. You will need to discuss the cost with the doctor before the process begins.
There is good news when choosing laser treatment for toenail fungus. The statistics so for are very good. Approximately ninety percent of patients using this technique have had positive results. Even when the fungi goes away, however, it may still take a while for the new healthy nail to grow back. Some patients using the oral and/or topical medications saw the condition reoccur. Since this is such a new technique, it is still unclear whether or not this regrowth will appear with these patients. It may or may not be a long term solution. The results, so far, are quite promising. Be sure to discuss any questions you have with your doctor.
About the Author:
Read more about Good Results With Laser Treatment For Toenail Fungus visiting our website.
No comments :
Post a Comment