Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow It WorksWhere It’s DoneSafetyRisksOther OptionsWhat to ExpectInsurance Coverage
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
How It Works
Where It’s Done
Safety
Risks
Other Options
What to Expect
Insurance Coverage
Laser therapy is a treatment fortoenail fungus infection (onychomycosis). Fungal infections of the nails usually require several laser treatment sessions before they get better. It may take three to 18 months of consistent treatment for laser therapy to be effective for toenail fungus.
This article will cover what you should know about using laser treatments for toenail fungus.
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With laser therapy, most people see noticeable improvement and there is a high cure rate. One study showed a 61% cure rate at 16 weeks. Another study showed 91% clinical improvement and a 30% cure rate at 180 days.
Laser treatment is associated with high rates of negative cultures. That means a laboratory test for a fungal infection does not show evidence of infection after treatment.
Treatment of onychomycosis is considered effective when the symptoms of the infection get better and there is no evidence of fungus on cultured samples of the toe or the skin around it.
How Laser Treatments Work for Toenail Fungus
There are several types of laser treatments that can be used to treat toenail fungus, including some that use light and others that use carbon dioxide (CO2).
Laser devices emit pulses of energy that produce heat. When used to treat onychomycosis, the laser is directed so the heat will penetrate the toenail to the nail bed where the fungus is.
For this type of treatment, CO2 lasers or yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) lasers with wavelengths of 870 nm, 930 nm, or 1320 nm are used.
In response to the heat, the infected tissue turns into a gas and breaks down, destroying the fungus as well as the surrounding skin and nails. The heat from the lasers also has a sterilizing effect, which helps prevent new fungal growth.
When the laser is targeted to the area of infection, the heat that’s produced inhibits the growth of the fungus and destroys it.
When used safely, laser treatment does not emit enough energy to destroyallthe tissue or all of the infection. Therefore, repeat treatments are usually needed. According to a study of 56 people with onychomycosis, an average of four treatment sessions were needed to eliminate the nail fungus.
The fungal growth is inhibited and some of the fungal microorganisms are destroyed, but since the infection can partially survive the treatment, it’s unlikely that you will be completely cured of toenail fungus with just one session of laser therapy.
Who Performs Laser Toenail Treatments for Toenail Fungus
When searching for a cosmetic dermatologist, look for the following:
If you are still not sure how to find a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, consult with a healthcare provider for recommendations.
Laser treatment for toenail fungus has an excellent safety record. Unlike traditional nail fungus treatments, such as oral or topical antifungal medications, lasers are not known to cause adverse drug interactions, reactions, or allergic responses.
Laser treatment for toenail fungus is also considered to be a safe alternative for people who have kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or who do not tolerate drugs well.
Risks and Side Effects
Possible side effects of laser toenail fungus treatment include:
However, if treatment is done with too much intensity, the laser may penetrate the nail and wound the nail bed. This can potentially lead to the formation of anescharunder the nail, a type of scab-like sore comprised of dry, dead tissue. It may be red to brown and tender, and may easily bleed.
Receiving treatment from a qualified and experienced provider greatly reduces this risk.
Alternative Treatments
Laser treatments are typically more effective than other treatments for nail fungus.
A nail fungus infection can sometimes be treated withtopical (on the skin) antifungal medicationsor oral antifungals. There are alsoover-the-counter(OTC) andprescriptionoptions.
Research has shown there is approximately a 45% improvement in toenail fungus with topical medicine and approximately 40% to 66% improvement with oral medication.
However, there seems to be a range in terms of how well these different treatments work. Using them consistently while avoiding side effects can be difficult. Combining treatments might be more effective than using a single treatment.
The 6 Best Toenail Fungus Treatments
Laser treatment for toenail fungus can typically be completed within one or two sessions. The laser procedure itself is quick and simple, typically taking about 30 minutes to complete.
Prepping for Laser Treatment
At your first consultation for laser treatment of nail fungus, your provider will ask you about your symptoms. Typically, onychomycosis is diagnosed based on how the nail looks but they might want to take a sample to look at under a microscope.
Right before your procedure, your foot will be cleaned with a sterile solution and put in an accessible position so the provider can direct the laser.
During the Procedure
Anesthesia is not needed for laser toenail fungus treatment. Once your nail is prepped, the dermatologist will pulse the laser using selected wavelengths. This helps minimize heat on the skin and reduces the risk of side effects.
As the tissue breaks down, you may have some pain and/or bleeding. If the pain is too much for your tolerance, let your dermatologist know so that they can adjust the laser’s settings.
Recovery
Once the procedure is finished, the dermatologist will tell you how to keep your toe clean and dry as it is healing. The provider may give you a topical antifungal cream, such as tioconazole, to apply to the nail. Make sure you follow the provider’s directions carefully.
The skin will heal in a few days. Any additional treatment sessions are typically spaced two to six weeks apart.
Even effective treatments are not expected to clear an infected nail immediately—it may take up to 18 months until the nail grows out for you to tell whether the treatment has been successful.
Signs of improvement in toenail fungus after laser therapy include:
Does Insurance Cover Toenail Laser Treatment?
Summary
Several types of laser therapy can treat toenail fungus. Laser treatment has a low risk of side effects, but you may feel some burning or pain during the treatment. After the procedure, you will need to wait for your nails to grow out before you see an improvement. It may take multiple treatment sessions to remove the nail fungus completely.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.USF Health.Laser nail fungus treatment.Zalacain A, Merlos A, Planell E, Cantadori EG, Vinuesa T, Viñas M.Clinical laser treatment of toenail onychomycoses.Lasers Med Sci.2018;33(4):927-933.doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2198-6Food and Drug Administration.Medical devices and clinical trial design for the treatment or improvement in the appearance of fungally-infected nails.Westerberg D, Voyack M.Onychomycosis: current trends in diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;88(11):762-770.Ma W, Si C, Kasyanju Carrero LM, et al.Laser treatment for onychomycosis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Nov;94(48):e17948. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000017948Weber GC, Firouzi P, Baran AM, et al.Treatment of onychomycosis using a 1064-nm diode laser with or without topical antifungal therapy: a single-center, retrospective analysis in 56 patients.Eur J Med Res. 2018;23(1):53. Published 2018 Oct 24. doi:10.1186/s40001-018-0340-yGupta A, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management.F1000 Res. 2019 Jun;8(1):968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.USF Health.Laser nail fungus treatment.Zalacain A, Merlos A, Planell E, Cantadori EG, Vinuesa T, Viñas M.Clinical laser treatment of toenail onychomycoses.Lasers Med Sci.2018;33(4):927-933.doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2198-6Food and Drug Administration.Medical devices and clinical trial design for the treatment or improvement in the appearance of fungally-infected nails.Westerberg D, Voyack M.Onychomycosis: current trends in diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;88(11):762-770.Ma W, Si C, Kasyanju Carrero LM, et al.Laser treatment for onychomycosis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Nov;94(48):e17948. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000017948Weber GC, Firouzi P, Baran AM, et al.Treatment of onychomycosis using a 1064-nm diode laser with or without topical antifungal therapy: a single-center, retrospective analysis in 56 patients.Eur J Med Res. 2018;23(1):53. Published 2018 Oct 24. doi:10.1186/s40001-018-0340-yGupta A, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management.F1000 Res. 2019 Jun;8(1):968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
USF Health.Laser nail fungus treatment.Zalacain A, Merlos A, Planell E, Cantadori EG, Vinuesa T, Viñas M.Clinical laser treatment of toenail onychomycoses.Lasers Med Sci.2018;33(4):927-933.doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2198-6Food and Drug Administration.Medical devices and clinical trial design for the treatment or improvement in the appearance of fungally-infected nails.Westerberg D, Voyack M.Onychomycosis: current trends in diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;88(11):762-770.Ma W, Si C, Kasyanju Carrero LM, et al.Laser treatment for onychomycosis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Nov;94(48):e17948. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000017948Weber GC, Firouzi P, Baran AM, et al.Treatment of onychomycosis using a 1064-nm diode laser with or without topical antifungal therapy: a single-center, retrospective analysis in 56 patients.Eur J Med Res. 2018;23(1):53. Published 2018 Oct 24. doi:10.1186/s40001-018-0340-yGupta A, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management.F1000 Res. 2019 Jun;8(1):968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1
USF Health.Laser nail fungus treatment.
Zalacain A, Merlos A, Planell E, Cantadori EG, Vinuesa T, Viñas M.Clinical laser treatment of toenail onychomycoses.Lasers Med Sci.2018;33(4):927-933.doi:10.1007/s10103-017-2198-6
Food and Drug Administration.Medical devices and clinical trial design for the treatment or improvement in the appearance of fungally-infected nails.
Westerberg D, Voyack M.Onychomycosis: current trends in diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2019;88(11):762-770.
Ma W, Si C, Kasyanju Carrero LM, et al.Laser treatment for onychomycosis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Nov;94(48):e17948. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000017948
Weber GC, Firouzi P, Baran AM, et al.Treatment of onychomycosis using a 1064-nm diode laser with or without topical antifungal therapy: a single-center, retrospective analysis in 56 patients.Eur J Med Res. 2018;23(1):53. Published 2018 Oct 24. doi:10.1186/s40001-018-0340-y
Gupta A, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management.F1000 Res. 2019 Jun;8(1):968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1
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