Laser treatment of nail fungus: procedure and reviews

The essence and results of the method

Treatment of onychomycosis with conservative methods does not always give results. This is due to the fact that the localization of pathogenic fungi under the nail plate makes it difficult for medicinal substances to reach the lesion. Under such conditions, treatment does not make sense without the use of systemic antifungal drugs. In turn, their long-term use contributes to a decrease in immunity, since they are toxic.

Do you think that nail fungus is primarily an aesthetic problem?

Not really

In this case, a good solution would be to treat nail plate fungus with a laser. This method is a modern and effective direction in medicine.

The laser beam penetrates deeply into the tissue, producing a powerful thermal effect. This promotes coagulation of spore cells and destruction of mycelium.

To treat nail fungus, two irradiation techniques are used:

Low intensity. In this case, treatment is carried out in the form of physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at disinfecting the affected areas. Laser treatment is part of a whole complex to combat fungus, which includes the use of tablets and ointments.
High intensity. A laser beam is used to eliminate fungus-affected nails. This method is required at an advanced stage of the pathological process. The beam replaces a surgical instrument that removes the nail plate in its entirety.

The result of treating onychomycosis in this way is the complete removal of the fungus in several successive procedures. Their number depends on the neglect of the pathological process.

What is nail fungus?

Mycoses are a collective concept that unites a wide group of diseases caused by various types of opportunistic and pathogenic fungi.

Due to the nature of their work, specialists at the Clinic of Podology have to deal with three types of pathogens that provoke fungus of the nails and skin of the feet:

yeast-like;
moldy;
dermatophytes.

Most often, fungal infection of the nails (onychomycosis) occurs in older people, and in men it is 2-3 times more common than in women. Factors that can provoke the development of the disease include vascular pathologies, obesity and foot diseases. In addition, nail plate fungus is detected in 1/3 of patients with diabetic foot syndrome developing against the background of diabetes mellitus.

The introduction of a fungal pathogen can be caused by calluses, corns, flat feet, valgus deformity of the big toes (“bunions”), excessive dryness or excessive sweating of the skin and constant trauma to the feet. An important role in the development of the infectious process is played by insufficient adherence to the rules of personal hygiene when visiting swimming pools, saunas, baths, fitness centers and other public places with high humidity and air temperature, which are favorable for infection with mycosis.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of this type of treatment include:

no need to take local and systemic antifungal drugs;
high penetrating ability of the laser beam, which makes it possible to suppress the activity of even those microorganisms that are located in hard-to-reach places;
safety of the method;
inability of fungi to adapt to laser exposure;
painlessness;
quick result and its durability: the effect is noticeable after the first sessions.

The laser irradiation procedure is recommended to be carried out once a week. In most cases, the therapeutic course takes 4-5 procedures.

The method of laser treatment of fungus also has several disadvantages. These include the presence of contraindications and high cost. In addition, laser treatment of onychomycosis does not provide a 100% guarantee of its elimination.

Laser treatment of the nail plate on the feet and hands, the essence of the method

Laser treatment of nail fungus involves complete or partial removal of the affected area in situations where conservative methods of treatment are no longer effective.

Experts recommend resorting to this kind of intervention also for those patients who experience a pronounced allergic reaction to one or another component of antifungal drugs. In addition, laser therapy is prescribed to people who have health problems due to serious pathological diseases of the liver and kidneys.

Treatment of mycosis using laser exposure is a procedure during which the patient does not experience unpleasant or painful sensations . The duration of the sessions and the duration of the course directly depends on the number of nails affected by the fungus, as well as on the degree of the disease.

On average, a nail is completely restored in 5–8 visits to a medical office. If an enlarged area of the nail plate is affected by microorganisms, it is possible to extend therapy to 10 sessions.

To obtain faster results, medical practice provides for the parallel prescription of additional antifungal agents for internal use (in the form of capsules or tablets). To consolidate the results obtained, the patient is required to carry out periodic prevention of mycosis, otherwise re-infection is possible.

Indications for laser treatment of fungus

Laser treatment of onychomycosis is recommended in the following cases:

lack of results from conservative treatment methods;
infection of one or more nail plates with a deep fungus;
extensive lesions involving more than 3 nail plates;
fungal infections on the hands and feet;
inability to use systemic antifungal agents due to the presence of concomitant diseases.

This procedure is effective for the following diagnoses:

normotrophic onychomycosis - the first stage of the pathology, characterized by the appearance of white spots on the nail plate, itching between the toes;
hypertrophic onychomycosis - the second stage of nail fungus, in which the plate becomes thickened, the lesions acquire a light yellow tint;
the atrophic form of the fungus is the most advanced form of onychomycosis, in which the nail affected by the fungus is completely rejected, and there is no healthy tissue under the plate.

Laser therapy is also effective for:

candidal onychomycosis, in which the nail becomes wavy and the skin ridges become inflamed;
onycholysis is a type of fungus characterized by thinning of the epithelium, loss of shine, and acquisition of a gray-brown tint by the plate.

Before starting therapy, you must ensure that there are no contraindications.

Prices and clinics

Treatment of fungal nail diseases is a fairly expensive procedure that requires significant financial costs. Only a specialist can tell the full cost of the course after taking into account all the factors that determine the number of procedures required. The region where the clinic is located also plays a role.

Prices and clinics

How much does one procedure cost?

Despite its high cost, laser therapy is more preferable in terms of price than a full course of drug treatment. If you do not take into account all laboratory tests and related services, then the price of treatment for one nail will be no more than 600 rubles.

Where to go for the service

Clinics offering laser therapy exist in all developed countries of the world. In Russia you can contact the following medical institutions:

There are currently more than 30 hospitals in the capital. The price scale ranges from 700 to 7000 rubles.
7 clinics offer their services to residents of St. Petersburg. Price options from 200 to 2500 rub.
There are 4 clinics in Nizhny Novgorod. The average cost of treatment for onychomycosis is 700 rubles. The treatment for the thumb is twice as high.

Clinics operate in Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Chelyabinsk, Krasnodar, Vladimir, Irkutsk and other cities of the country.

Residents of Belarus and guests of the country who arrived for the purpose of medical tourism can contact one of five clinics in Minsk. The cost of one procedure will be on average 16 Belarusian rubles.

In Ukraine, clinics are located in Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkov, Dnieper and Zaporozhye. The cost of one session ranges from 100 to 600 hryvnia. In Dnepr, it offers the opportunity to treat the entire foot for 850 hryvnia.

Preparation for the procedure

Before prescribing a course of laser treatment for nail fungus, the doctor familiarizes the patient with the list of necessary preparatory procedures.

First of all, it is necessary to take a culture test, as well as general and biochemical blood tests. An ultrasound of internal organs may also be required.

Before taking tests, the patient needs to stop taking systemic antifungal drugs for a week and remove the varnish from the nail plates. One day before the procedure, you should not file or cut your nails.

Immediately before the session, the patient must do the following:

Before going to bed, steam your feet or hands (depending on the location of the fungus), it is best to keep them in a solution of hot water and baking soda, the duration of the procedure is about 20 minutes;
remove varnish or any other coating.

On the eve of the procedure, you should avoid ointments, creams and any other topical agents.

Possible complications

Problems during or after a session are rarely reported. If you look at real patient reviews, you can find confirmation of this.

Read: Treatment of cracked fingernails

The occurrence of complications is mainly due to the following reasons:

advanced form of onychomycosis;
insufficient number of procedures;
individual characteristics of the patient;
refusal or poor compliance with preventive measures.

The number of positive responses is many times greater than the negative comments from both patients and doctors.

Carrying out the procedure

The procedure for treating nail plate fungus with a laser is carried out as follows:

The patient is given protective glasses to protect their eyes from harmful radiation.
The area of the nail plate affected by the fungus is treated with an antiseptic and a special gel.
First, low-intensity radiation is applied, then the power is adjusted if necessary.

If the laser is used for severe damage to the nail in order to remove it, then proceed a little differently:

The lesion is treated with a special preparation.
To slow down the blood flow, a tourniquet is tightened on the finger whose nail is to be removed.
Treat the skin with an antiseptic.
The nail plate is removed layer by layer using high-intensity laser radiation.
The bed is cleared of soft tissues and a bandage is applied to the site of exposure.

The duration of one session is 10-15 minutes. If radical removal of the affected nail is required, then 3 to 10 sessions will be required, each of which will last about 20 minutes.

During exposure, the laser beams move across the entire area of the nail plate in a spiral. They come into contact with fungal cells. When light energy is converted into heat, the protein structures of the pathogen are destroyed.

The following installations are used for laser treatment:

Sciton Medical Inc;
Friendly Light Neo;
Fotona.

When exposed to laser to the affected nails, the patient may feel tingling and slight discomfort. This procedure does not cause pain.

How the laser nail treatment procedure is performed is shown in this video:

Manifestations of fungal foot diseases

The fungus often affects the skin of the legs, feet and interdigital spaces - this is the so-called athlete's foot. But in overwhelming cases, fungal infections settle on the nail plates, and this is called in the scientific world - onychomycosis.

How to recognize nail fungus

Nail fungus is characterized by localization mainly on two fingers - the big and little fingers. The nails on these fingers become uneven, lumpy, and have dull white or yellowish spots. The nail plate, with a long course of the disease, can separate from the bed in the area of the spots. It is completely deformed and has a tendency to ingrown.

Manifestations of foot fungus

Redness appears on the foot, followed by peeling, itching (from mild to severe), pustular rashes, hyperhidrosis, and an unpleasant odor may appear. Heels also often crack and peel.

Risk factors for developing fungus

impaired metabolism;
increased body weight, diabetes mellitus;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
problems with the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
skin diseases (psoriasis);
insufficient blood flow to the extremities;
diseases associated with the immune system;
increased sweating (including feet);
family medical history;
age.

Before starting to treat fungus at home

For treatment to be effective, the following must be done:

Before any action, you should first steam your feet in hot soap and soda water (50°C). The bath lasts from 15 minutes to an hour (if the nails are very hard).
Treat the instruments you will use with alcohol, and the area of the procedure with a chlorine-containing product or bleach.
If the nail plates are affected by the fungus, then cut or file off the affected nails.
Exfoliate dead skin on the feet.

Remember: areas affected by fungus should not be lubricated with moisturizing creams!

Rehabilitation period

During the recovery period, you must follow the recommendations given by your doctor. If you neglect them, the achieved result can be nullified. In each individual case, certain means are recommended for the speedy restoration of the nail plate - varnishes, creams, ointments, solutions.

To avoid recurrence of the fungus, you must avoid visiting saunas, baths, and swimming pools. The limitation period is at least 3 months. Enough time must pass not only for the nail plate to grow and strengthen, but also for local immunity to strengthen.

During the period between laser treatments, the following rules must be observed:

carry out disinfection of treated areas, if necessary, apply and promptly change bandages;
wear shoes and socks only made from natural fabrics; shoes should fit properly and not squeeze or rub your feet;
disinfect instruments before and after pedicure;
temporarily refrain from applying decorative varnish coatings to the treated nail plate;
wipe your feet dry after water procedures;
use talc to combat severe sweating of the feet;
Regularly disinfect the inside of your shoes.

Subsequently, to prevent relapse, it is necessary to change socks every day. You also need to thoroughly wash your shoes every day - not only outside, but also inside. Under no circumstances should you wear wet shoes - moisture and dampness contribute to the rapid spread of fungus.

When the rehabilitation period has passed and you can again visit the bathhouse or swimming pool, you must go to such places only with individual replacement shoes.

In no case should hygiene standards be neglected: feet must be washed daily, feet must be treated with antiseptic agents. Particular attention should be paid to the areas between the fingers where the greatest amount of dirt accumulates.

Contraindications

Contraindications to laser treatment of nail fungus are the following diseases and conditions:

periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
period after recent surgery on internal organs;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
epilepsy;
the presence of chronic diseases that cause an increase in body temperature;
low blood clotting;
thinning of blood vessels;
blood diseases;
diabetes;
periods of exacerbation of chronic skin diseases;
the presence of malignant tumors.

Laser treatment for onychomycosis is also unacceptable for people under the age of 18 and after 65 years.

Reviews

Daria, 33 years old: Two years ago I developed toenail fungus. At first, I didn’t attach much importance to this and tried to treat onychomycosis with folk remedies. This did not help, but only worsened the course of the disease. At the appointment, the doctor recommended the laser treatment method as radical and at the same time gentle. After the second procedure, the condition improved. In total, it took me 5 sessions for the lesion to be completely eliminated. The procedure is painless and effective, so I was satisfied.

Anton, 45 years old: After working out in the pool, I discovered that my nails had changed color. The fungal process developed quite quickly: soon this symptom was supplemented by a burning sensation in the areas between the fingers, an unpleasant odor, and brittle nails. At first I used topical remedies. I cannot take systemic antifungal drugs as indicated. At the appointment, I was recommended laser therapy as the best way out of this situation. The sessions are painless and effective. The symptoms of the fungus disappeared quickly. True, the nail plate took a long time to recover, but the main thing is that the fungus was eliminated.

Tatyana, 48 years old: Several years ago I treated fungus on my toenails with a laser. The doctor promised a quick effect. After passing all the necessary tests, I began treatment. Two procedures went well and there were improvements, but during the third I felt very unpleasant sensations. Due to the doctor’s incompetence, she received a burn, and the plate was also deformed. I completed the course of treatment, but there was an unpleasant aftertaste.

Laser treatment of nail fungus is a modern and effective method that allows you to cope with the infectious process in just a few procedures. The technique has contraindications, so before starting treatment it is necessary to take tests and undergo additional examination.

Prevention of re-infection

To avoid relapse after laser treatment of nail fungus, doctors recommend adhering to a number of rules:

Wash your feet and hands daily with soap or antiseptic gel. Pat your skin dry, paying special attention to the areas between your toes.
Wear socks and gloves made from natural, breathable materials. Wash and disinfect items regularly. Change your socks daily.
Wear only loose shoes and be sure to dry them after use.
Use only personal washcloths, towels, pumice stones, pedicure and manicure sets. Boil tools after use.
Wear individual shoes in the bathhouse, sauna, gym, swimming pool, and on the beach. After laser removal of a toenail due to fungus, avoid visiting such places for 2-3 months.
Treat your nails with antifungal varnish or cream for a month after completing therapy.

Simple tips will prevent re-infection and consolidate the results of therapy.

According to reviews, laser treatment of onychomycosis allows you to quickly and permanently get rid of nail fungus. The procedure is as safe, painless and effective as possible. Take care of the health of your hands and feet with advanced technologies!