Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the toenails that can affect the nails of individuals of any age. Generally, these fungi are found on the outer layers of the skin and slowly spread on to the nail plate. Treatment of onychomycosis can be complicated because these fungi live in dead tissue, where it’s hard for medication to effectively reach.
Topical medications for your feet are able to eliminate fungus on the surface, though they can’t reach the stubborn microorganisms under the nail. Often they’re used with oral prescriptions since that medication is able to target the fungus more directly. Some oral treatments work, but they carry a risk of liver damage that our doctors can discuss with you. Most experts agree that surgically removing the nail plate does not reflect current thoughts as state of the art treatment.
Lasers, on the other hand, have become a technologically advanced approach to the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Lasers produce a strong, coherent light energy at a specific wavelength that the nail tissue absorbs in a unique way. This produces heat and destruction of the offending germs. With the use of lasers, tissue surrounding the affected area remains unharmed.
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