Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment Information
Fungal nail infections often result from damage to the nail plate or the surrounding area. A skin infections or athlete’s foot invades the nail, causing the infection. Up to 30 percent of patients with fungal nail infections also have fungal skin infection. Hot, sweaty feet in fully enclosed shoes provide the ideal warm, damp environment for fungi to thrive.
Factors that increase the risk of nail infections are:
- nail damage (e.g.: activities that cause trauma to the nail)
- medical conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, or weakened immune system
- smoking
- general poor health
- using shared washing facilities without slippers
Medical conditions like diabetes and poor circulation can create the potential for worsening conditions such as secondary bacterial infections. The fungus can thrive when the foot is contained in a warm, damp shoe for a long time. Poor foot hygiene, walking on contaminated floors and the use of badly sterilized nail cutting and filing equipment are other ways the feet can be exposed to the fungus.
- Yellow streaks in the skin under the nail, or nail bed, and on the underside of the nail
- Buildup of bits and pieces of skin and nail fragments under the nail
- Discolored and thickened nail that may separate from the skin under the nail
- Brittle, broken, and thickened nails
- White spots or streaks on the nail surface
- Soft and powdery nail surface, which appears as the infection worsens
- White spots or streaks on the nail surface
- Distorted shaped Toenails
- Dull toenails without luster or shine
- Dark colored toenails due to fungus debris building under the nail
- Splitting of the nails
- Tenderness of the toe with or without pain
- Damaged, crumbly, and brown or gray nail surface, with no separation of the nail from the underlying skin
The PinPointe Foot Laser kills fungus that lives in and under the nail. The laser light passes through the nail without causing damage to the nail or the surrounding skin. At the time of the procedure, the toenail will not become instantly clear— it takes time to grow out.
1. Make sure you remove all the nail polish and nail decorations the day before your treatment
2. Wear comfortable clothes that can easily be rolled up
3. Bring a clean pair of socks to change into after your laser nail treatment appointment
4. Thin all affected nails down as much as you can
- Know what athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) looks like and treat it early and effectively.
- Take care around public areas, changing rooms and swimming pools. Wear flip flops and dry your feet well.
- Let your feet breathe. Don’t wear the same shoes every day.
- Keep your toenails clean and trimmed.
- Wear cotton or natural fiber socks and leather or breathable uppers in shoes.
- For those at risk, use an antifungal daily.
- Use separate nail clippers for your fingernails and toenails. Toenails are more likely to have fungus and that will help prevent transferring toenail fungus from your feet to your fingernails.
- In wet and moist areas, don’t walk barefoot to prevent collecting fungi that is likely to be present on the floor.
- Don’t share shoes with other people. This will help prevent transferring fungi to each other.
- Before wearing socks, spray or powder your feet and inside of your shoes. This will help to keep your feet and shoes dry, and eliminate buildup of fungus.
- The regular nail polish and artificial nails can trap unwanted moisture and exacerbate an existing infection. We recommend using special anti-fungal nail polish to help avoid toenail fungus infection.
- Wear waterproof boots and gloves to avoid prolong moisture exposure to your nails.
- Wear wide shoes with ample space for your toes. This will help to prevent moisture and trauma to your toenail (common reasons for toenail fungus).
- Avoid foot injury and micro-trauma to your toenail (ex: playing soccer)
- If you already have toe nail fungus don’t use the same nail clipper for healthy and unhealthy nails. Seek appropriate medical solution at an early stage.
- Only attend nail salons that have adequate levels of hygiene.
Even if you treated your toenail fungus, your shoes are likely to have fungus in them. Shoes provide warm, moist and dark environment in which the fungus can thrive. Therefore, your old shoes may get you re-infected. The best way to avoid recurrence of toenail fungus is to throw away old shoes and clean the rest of your shoes diligently with antifungal products. You can also sterilize your shoes with special U.V. light devices.
After washing shoes carefully, let them dry in the sun. Next, use an anti-fungal foot spray and spray it inside the shoes. You can next use anti-fungal powder inside the shoes. Spray the shoes again to kill toenail fungus that managed to survive. Keep your shoes as dry as possible to prevent future spores and fungus growth.
Nail fungus is the cause of 50% of all nail problems. Toenails are easier to be infected than fingernails. Here are the typical types of nail fungus:
Distal Subungual Onychomycosis
This is the most common type of nail fungus infection.
It is usually caused by T. Rubrum, that invades the nail bed from the tips of nails and spreads through the nail backwards to the cuticle. This fungus can be limited to one side of the nail bed or it may progress and spread throughout the entire nail. Early stages of the infection is characterized by nail color change, most commonly into dark green or a yellow color. Later stage of the infection will result in thickened toenails that can cause pain.
White superficial nail fungus
Common nail fungus infection that accounts about 10% of the diagnosed onychomycosis cases. This nail fungus infection works directly on the nail matrix, forming white patches on the nail surface. This type of nail fungus is usually painless.
Candidal onychomycosis
This is a rare nail fungal infection, which is caused by yeast (Candida albicans). The fungus invades the fingernails, rather than toenails. Candidal onychomycosis can also be a sign of a compromised immune system.
Proximal subungual onychomycosis
The least common infection of nail fungus. This nail fungus is seldom found in the healthy people, but is common with people who are immunocompromised, such as those infected with HIV, cancer, or diabetes. Therefore patients with this nail fungus injection should take it as a warning sign of a more serious underlying disease.
If you suspect that you are infected with any type of nail fungus above, visit our clinic for a free consultation and laser nail fungus treatment.
We offer several payment plan options, please call us for details.
- Trauma – this is the most common reason.
- Nutritional Deficiency – white dots are often a symptom of calcium or zinc deficiency.
- Allergy – Allergies to nail polish or artificial nail glue are a common cause for white spots.
- Fungal infection – White spots are a symptom of a common fungal nail infection called “White Superficial Fungal Infection.” You should visit a doctor to treat this condition.
- Sign of another underlying disease – If all of your nails show white spots, this could be related to another more serious condition such as anemia, cardiac disease, or diabetes. Pay attention to the changes of your nails and to consult your doctor as needed.
What should you do to eliminate the white spots?
Usually no treatment is required; the spots will disappear as your nail grows out. Simply allow them to grow out – they will fade away on their own eventually, if untouched. You should also consume Calcium rich foods and include more Vitamin C in your diet (either pills or fruits). Lastly, you may apply nail polish to hide the spots on your toenails and/or fingernails.
The Nail bed is located under the Nail plate. The nail plate is the area responsible for nail growth and regeneration. The plate is slightly red because of the blood vessels under it. The nail shape depends on bone under it (finger or toe bone).
Interesting facts about nails:
-Toenails grow faster during summer seasons and in hot climates
-Toe nails grow about 4mm per month, almost as fast as hair. Nail growth rate varies by age, climate, gender, diet, physical activity, and genetics.
Unmatched expertise – our foot doctors cure over 5000 toenail fungus patients per month
Our foot doctors do not use toxic anti-fungal medications
No need for 12 week course of oral medications
No pain or recovery period
Usually only one treatment required for clear nails
The laser light targets the fungus under the nail and does not harm the nail or surrounding skin
Open 7 days a week
Unmatched expertise – our foot doctors cure over 5000 toenail fungus patients per month
Our foot doctors do not use toxic anti-fungal medications
No need for 12 week course of oral medications
No pain or recovery period
Usually only one treatment required for clear nails
The laser light targets the fungus under the nail and does not harm the nail or surrounding skin
Open 7 days a week
Toenail Fungus Treatment
Fungal nail infections often result from damage to the nail plate or the surrounding area. A skin infections or athlete’s foot invades the nail, causing the infection. Up to 30 percent of patients with fungal nail infections also have fungal skin infection. Hot, sweaty feet in fully enclosed shoes provide the ideal warm, damp environment for fungi to thrive.
Factors that increase the risk of nail infections are:
- nail damage (e.g.: activities that cause trauma to the nail)
- medical conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis, homea weakened immune system
- smoking
- general poor health
- using shared washing facilities without slippers
Medical conditions like diabetes and poor circulation can create the potential for worsening conditions such as secondary bacterial infections. The fungus can thrive when the foot is contained in a warm, damp shoe for a long time. Poor foot hygiene, walking on contaminated floors and the use of badly sterilized nail cutting and filing equipment are other ways the feet can be exposed to the fungus.
- Yellow streaks in the skin under the nail, or nail bed, and on the underside of the nail
- Buildup of bits and pieces of skin and nail fragments under the nail
- Discolored and thickened nail that may separate from the skin under the nail
- Brittle, broken, and thickened nails
- White spots or streaks on the nail surface
- Soft and powdery nail surface, which appears as the infection worsens
- White spots or streaks on the nail surface
- Distorted shaped Toenails
- Dull toenails without luster or shine
- Dark colored toenails due to fungus debris building under the nail
- Splitting of the nails
- Tenderness of the toe with or without pain
- Damaged, crumbly, and brown or gray nail surface, with no separation of the nail from the underlying skin
The PinPointe Foot Laser kills fungus that lives in and under the nail. The laser light passes through the nail without causing damage to the nail or the surrounding skin. At the time of the procedure, the toenail will not become instantly clear— it takes time to grow out.
1. Make sure you remove all the nail polish and nail decorations the day before your treatment
2. Wear comfortable clothes that can easily be rolled up
3. Bring a clean pair of socks to change into after your laser nail treatment appointment
4. Thin all affected nails down as much as you can
- Know what athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) looks like and treat it early and effectively.
- Take care around public areas, changing rooms and swimming pools. Wear flip flops and dry your feet well.
- Let your feet breathe. Don’t wear the same shoes every day.
- Keep your toenails clean and trimmed.
- Wear cotton or natural fiber socks and leather or breathable uppers in shoes.
- For those at risk, use an antifungal daily.
- Use separate nail clippers for your fingernails and toenails. Toenails are more likely to have fungus and that will help prevent transferring toenail fungus from your feet to your fingernails.
- In wet and moist areas, don’t walk barefoot to prevent collecting fungi that is likely to be present on the floor.
- Don’t share shoes with other people. This will help prevent transferring fungi to each other.
- Before wearing socks, spray or powder your feet and inside of your shoes. This will help to keep your feet and shoes dry, and eliminate buildup of fungus.
- The regular nail polish and artificial nails can trap unwanted moisture and exacerbate an existing infection. We recommend using special anti-fungal nail polish to help avoid toenail fungus infection.
- Wear waterproof boots and gloves to avoid prolong moisture exposure to your nails.
- Wear wide shoes with ample space for your toes. This will help to prevent moisture and trauma to your toenail (common reasons for toenail fungus).
- Avoid foot injury and micro-trauma to your toenail (ex: playing soccer)
- If you already have toe nail fungus don’t use the same nail clipper for healthy and unhealthy nails. Seek appropriate medical solution at an early stage.
- Only attend nail salons that have adequate levels of hygiene.
Even if you treated your toenail fungus, your shoes are likely to have fungus in them. Shoes provide warm, moist and dark environment in which the fungus can thrive. Therefore, your old shoes may get you re-infected. The best way to avoid recurrence of toenail fungus is to throw away old shoes and clean the rest of your shoes diligently with antifungal products. You can also sterilize your shoes with special U.V. light devices.
After washing shoes carefully, let them dry in the sun. Next, use an anti-fungal foot spray and spray it inside the shoes. You can next use anti-fungal powder inside the shoes. Spray the shoes again to kill toenail fungus that managed to survive. Keep your shoes as dry as possible to prevent future spores and fungus growth.
Nail fungus is the cause of 50% of all nail problems. Toenails are easier to be infected than fingernails. Here are the typical types of nail fungus:
Distal Subungual Onychomycosis
This is the most common type of nail fungus infection.
It is usually caused by T. Rubrum, that invades the nail bed from the tips of nails and spreads through the nail backwards to the cuticle. This fungus can be limited to one side of the nail bed or it may progress and spread throughout the entire nail. Early stages of the infection is characterized by nail color change, most commonly into dark green or a yellow color. Later stage of the infection will result in thickened toenails that can cause pain.
White superficial nail fungus
Common nail fungus infection that accounts about 10% of the diagnosed onychomycosis cases. This nail fungus infection works directly on the nail matrix, forming white patches on the nail surface. This type of nail fungus is usually painless.
Candidal onychomycosis
This is a rare nail fungal infection, which is caused by yeast (Candida albicans). The fungus invades the fingernails, rather than toenails. Candidal onychomycosis can also be a sign of a compromised immune system.
Proximal subungual onychomycosis
The least common infection of nail fungus. This nail fungus is seldom found in the healthy people, but is common with people who are immunocompromised, such as those infected with HIV, cancer, or diabetes. Therefore patients with this nail fungus injection should take it as a warning sign of a more serious underlying disease.
If you suspect that you are infected with any type of nail fungus above, visit our clinic for a free consultation and laser nail fungus treatment.
We offer several payment plan options, please call us for details.
- Trauma – this is the most common reason.
- Nutritional Deficiency – white dots are often a symptom of calcium or zinc deficiency.
- Allergy – Allergies to nail polish or artificial nail glue are a common cause for white spots.
- Fungal infection – White spots are a symptom of a common fungal nail infection called “White Superficial Fungal Infection.” You should visit a doctor to treat this condition.
- Sign of another underlying disease – If all of your nails show white spots, this could be related to another more serious condition such as anemia, cardiac disease, or diabetes. Pay attention to the changes of your nails and to consult your doctor as needed.
What should you do to eliminate the white spots?
Usually no treatment is required; the spots will disappear as your nail grows out. Simply allow them to grow out – they will fade away on their own eventually, if untouched. You should also consume Calcium rich foods and include more Vitamin C in your diet (either pills or fruits). Lastly, you may apply nail polish to hide the spots on your toenails and/or fingernails.
The Nail bed is located under the Nail plate. The nail plate is the area responsible for nail growth and regeneration. The plate is slightly red because of the blood vessels under it. The nail shape depends on bone under it (finger or toe bone).
Interesting facts about nails:
-Toenails grow faster during summer seasons and in hot climates
-Toe nails grow about 4mm per month, almost as fast as hair. Nail growth rate varies by age, climate, gender, diet, physical activity, and genetics.