Cold Laser Toenail Fungus Treatment

Toenail fungus is a common concern for many people with some estimates saying that it occurs in 10% of the population. Toenail fungus can be infectious and leads to an abnormal appearance of the nail. Traditional medications have a number of possible side effects and are moderately effective. Laser treatment is relatively new efficient option to treat this disease.

What causes toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus occurs when the fungus gets on the toes and starts to grow. This happens commonly when walking barefoot in areas where it grows well such as public restrooms or gym locker rooms.

How does cold laser toenail fungus treatment work?

The cold laser for toenail fungus treatment uses low level 405 nm wavelength to kill the fungus that are inside the nail bed. The fungus is killed and will no longer grow. As the nail grows over time the affected areas will move further from the base of the nail toward the tip of the nail and eventually full clearance is seen.

What is the difference between regular lasers to a cold laser?

Regular laser uses heat to kill the nail fungus. As a result the treatment is usually painful for the patient. Also, the laser must reach every spot in order to kill the fungus while cold laser does not cause any pains and can be easily reach fungus areas without the need to heat each specific infected area.

How many laser toenail fungus treatments will I need?

Depending on the severity of the infection, most people will require at least three laser toenail fungus treatments. Cold Laser toenail fungus treatments are performed once per month.

Does the laser toenail fungus treatment hurt?

Regular lasers that are heat based are quite painful because they need to reach the fungus while heating the area that beneath the nail. Cold lasers are able to penetrate beneath the nail without any heating therefore are totally painless.

When will I see the results of the laser toenail fungus treatment?

Once the toenail fungus treatment is killed, it will no longer grow in the nail. However, the abnormal appearance will be present until the nail grows out completely. This does require patience as it could take up to 12 months and more to see the final results of the laser toenail fungus treatment.

What can I do to ensure the laser toenail fungus treatment is successful?

Applying a topical product twice per day will further enhance the results. The toenail fungus grows best in hot and humid environments. Therefore, it is important to prevent this by keeping the feet dry and cool. Wash your feet after exercising or sweating and make sure they are completely dry by using a towel and/or blow dryer. Avoid wearing socks to sleep and avoid walking barefoot in areas such as restrooms and gym locker rooms.