Toenail fungus is a fungal infection called onychomycosis, which affects the toenails on the feet. The symptoms can vary but generally the nail will become brittle and discolored. It may even break into smaller pieces which fall away from the nail. Toe fungus may also cause skin lesions called dermatophytids which can become red and itchy. Many people find the condition embarrassing rather than painful. However, it can limit your social activities as you may not want to show your feet. It is important to remember that toe nail fungus is contagious and can be spread to your unaffected foot or other people using the same locker room. There are a number of treatment
options for toenail fungus; laser treatment, ointments and topical creams are commonly
used.
The condition is actually caused by the presence of a micro-organism. This attaches to a host, usually humans to breed and thrive. There are a number of situations which present ideal conditions for the toe fungus micro-organism. These include hot and humid areas such as swimming pools, locker rooms and other venues which may have warm conditions with bad ventilation. Age can also a factor which increases the likelihood of development. The condition is of greater prevalence in elderly people since their nails grow slower which increases susceptibility.
There are a number of treatment options available, should you develop toenail fungus. Natural and anti-fungal treatments are available can be applied to try to combat the infection. However, to eradicate the condition completely, the fungus must be destroyed and the nail allowed to grow out without the presence of the micro-organism. For this reason, many people find these types of treatment very slow and frustrating. For many people with toenail fungus, laser treatment has provided a faster and more effective solution.
When dealing with toe nail fungus, laser treatment attacks the bacteria which is nestled under the bed of the nail. The concentrated beam of light is absorbed in the pigmentation of the fungus. This absorption process generates heat which can kill the micro-organism. Once the micro-organism has been killed, the nail can regrow healthily without being obstructed by the toenail fungus. Generally, this will only require a couple of treatments, depending on the type and strain of fungus.
This type of treatment is safe, painless and very quick. It provides an effective treatment method without the need for topical creams and ointments. Laser treatment is becoming extremely popular as an effective method for a number of conditions including healing wounds, relieving acne and even assisting stopping smoking. It is becoming widely recognized as a legitimate treatment method which has a great deal of efficacy. The recent development for a toenail fungus laser treatment has been immediately embraced by professionals and sufferers of the condition.
If you are interested in learning more about
toenail fungus laser treatment or suspect that you may be showing the initial signs of a
fungal infection on your toes, you should consult the services of a professional and reputable podiatrist to confirm a diagnosis and applicable treatment method.
