Introduction
Laser systems are a popular therapy option for onychomycosis, a common fungal nail infection. The process might aid in clearing the illness and halting fungal development. Laser systems are rapidly promoted as a simple and potent cure for onychomycosis. Many doctors are using lasers as an alternative to systemic antifungals because of their longer treatment times and related risks.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
Fungal infections of the nail, called onychomycosis, are complicated to treat since they frequently do not respond well to approved topical and systemic treatments. Onychomycosis, which accounts for 18 percent to 40 percent of all nail problems, is a widespread nail pathology, affecting an estimated two percent to 10 percent of the population. It starts under the nail or toenail tip as a white or yellow-brown patch. The nail may become thicker, disintegrate at the edge, and change color as the fungal infection spreads deeper. Multiple nails may be impacted by nail fungus.
How Toenail Fungus Is Treated Using Laser Therapy?
Toenail fungus can be treated using a variety of laser treatments, some of which utilize light and others which use carbon dioxide (CO2). Laser equipment releases thermal energy pulses. The laser is aimed to allow heat to pass through the toenail and into the nail bed, the location of the fungus, to treat onychomycosis.
It was discovered that the effectiveness of CO2 laser treatment for curing toenail fungus was marginally higher than that of 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser treatment. This could result from the CO2 laser's ability to raise the regional temperature, gasify and break down the infected tissue, and have a sterilizing impact. In contrast, the 1064-nm laser prevents the fungus from growing.
The current investigation also showed that CO2 fractional laser treatment was less effective than CO2 perforated laser treatment. The CO2 fractional laser treatment provided a successful outcome rate of 45 percent among the examined trials, whereas the CO2-perforated laser treatment produced a cure rate of 95 percent. Furthermore, the types of adverse effects associated with conventional oral drug therapy were not produced by the bacteriostatic and sterilizing effects of CO2 laser treatment.
Owing to the photothermal impact of the perforated CO2 laser therapy, the contaminated tissue can be gasified and wholly decomposed, which is expected to result in improved sterilization and a better long-term outcome. However, CO2 perforated laser treatment results in a higher localized temperature than CO2 fractional laser treatment. This can lead to more extensive wounds, the formation of a brown eschar (dry, dead tissue within a wound), and an increased risk of bleeding because it can be challenging to control the depth of laser penetration into the tissue. Therefore, when a treatment may produce substantial clinical damage to the nail bed, it is necessary to avoid seeking therapeutic results overly.
Who Benefits From Laser Treatment?
The following populations could gain the most from laser treatment:
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Those suffering from liver or renal illness.
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Diabetics.
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Elderly people who are intolerant to medications.
Removing nail fungus can be challenging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), early treatment has been shown to improve prognosis. If treatment for nail fungus is not received, it may spread to other parts of the body.
What to Anticipate in Laser Therapy?
The physician will inquire about the signs during the initial visit for nail fungus laser therapy. Onychomycosis is typically recognized by looking at the nail, although a sample may need to be examined under a microscope.
A medical professional like a podiatrist, family doctor, or dermatologist will administer the treatment. Several days before the laser treatment, or even on the actual procedure day, one may also have a debridement process (cleaning of dead skin) and the toenails trimmed.
The foot will be washed with a disinfectant just before the operation and placed in a reachable location so the medical professional may point the laser at it. In addition to being applied to any afflicted nails, the laser may also be used to unaffected toenails if there is reason to believe that a fungus may develop there. The danger of adverse effects is decreased by minimizing skin heat through specific wavelengths or by pulsing the laser. Laser therapy usually takes up to 30 minutes for each session.
What Indices of Progress Are Present in Laser Therapy?
Even while some patients find that their infection clears up after just one treatment, other sessions may be necessary, depending on the outcomes. Even with successful treatments, an infected nail may not heal immediately; one may need to wait up to a year for the nail to grow out before determining whether the therapy was successful.
Symptoms of reduced toenail fungus following laser treatment include:
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The elimination of any yellow, white, or brown pigmentation on the toenail or toenails in question.
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Getting rid of flaky material beneath or around the nail.
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Regaining nail separation from the nail bed underneath (onycholysis).
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Normal texture and form of newly growing nails, free of thickness, lumps, or deformities.
What Are the Risks Associated With Laser Therapy?
In general, laser therapy is safe. Following treatment, some patients experience some degree of heat and slight discomfort. Nonetheless, the lower risks associated with laser therapy are one of its benefits. The risks associated with oral medicines include gastrointestinal, renal, and liver damage. Therefore, youngsters, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical issues may find laser treatment to be safer.
What Is the Difference Between Laser Therapy and Other Treatments?
For nail fungus, laser treatments usually work better than traditional methods. Onychomycosis is traditionally treated with topical, oral, mechanical, and pharmacological therapy. Because topical medications cannot pass through the nail plate, they typically do not work. Due to a high risk of liver and renal damage as well as possible interactions with other drugs, oral antifungal medications may cause negative side effects. Topical antifungal therapies may work better when the nail plate is surgically removed or chemically dissolved.
Conclusion
There are several things to consider while considering toenail fungal infection treatment options. While topical treatments often require constant attention with little to no improvement, ingesting medication can have unintended adverse effects. Even though recurring laser treatments may be more effective, scheduling several visits in advance could be time-consuming. The state of the patient's health and the length of treatment being received greatly impact how well laser therapy cures this condition.
