Fungal Nails Treatment
If you have fungal nails, you probably fall into one of two camps—you’re either desperate to get rid of them, or you’ve given up entirely.
Sure, they may not necessary be physically painful or medically dangerous like some other conditions. But they can be incredibly frustrating and embarrassing, and keep you from feeling confident about wearing open toed shoes or enjoying routine activities. Worse, they can spread the fungus everywhere—your skin, your shoes, your home, even your family.
Until recently, they were also very difficult and time-consuming to treat, and were highly likely to recur. No wonder so many people give up!
Fortunately, we can offer a better solution. Our office is equipped with the Cutera GenesisPlus laser, the safest and most effective way to treat fungal toenails.
But first, a little background.
What Are Fungal Toenails?
Fungal toenails are, as you might expect, a fungal infection the develops underneath one or more of your toenails. It’s also extremely common—an estimated 30 million Americans have them.
This can cause a variety of unsightly symptoms, including discoloration, thickening, odor, and deformity of the nail. The nail(s) may become brittle, crumbly, or ragged as well and very difficult to cut.
Also, the infected nail may be painful, especially when walking or wearing shoes and in rare cases the unhealthy nail can lead to ulceration of the underlying nail bed.
What Causes Fungal Nails?
Fungal nails are caused by the same types of fungi that also cause skin infections like athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch.
These fungi can spread from one area of the body to another, and they can also spread through direct or indirect contact with infected surfaces, through cracks or small gaps in the nail.
The fungi that cause fungal nails tend to prefer locations and surfaces that are warm, moist or humid, and dark. Wearing sweaty shoes and socks, walking barefoot in public showers or pool decks, or even getting a manicure/pedicure at a spa that doesn’t properly sterilize their equipment can increase your risk of developing fungal nails. (Check out Sole Serenity Spa to avoid that issue!)
Advanced Fungal Nail Management from Lakes Foot & Ankle Associates
In the “old days,” there were basically two treatment options for fungal toenails, and neither were that good:
- Oral antifungal medications, which could sometimes cause unpleasant and occasionally dangerous side effects.
- Topical antifungal medications, which take a long time to work and are not that effective as a sole treatment method.
But laser treatment has revolutionized the way we care for fungal nail infections, making the process much faster, safer, and more effective than ever before.
The laser passes through the nail, distributing its energy (heat) to the fungi and the infected tissue. This has the double effect of killing the fungus while also promoting healthy nail growth.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes at most, is completely painless, requires no anesthesia or medications, has no side effects, and has no downtime—you can return to your regular activities immediately. A full treatment course generally requires 3-4 sessions over the course of a year.
To maximize effectiveness, we combine laser treatment with in-office debridement of the nails and application of topical medications.
This combination therapy has produced spectacular results for our patients, with much higher cure rates than previous therapies.
Want A Faster Solution to Clear Nails?
One of the few downsides of any fungal nail treatment is that it can take 12-18 months to achieve optimal results. Simply killing the fungus won’t “fix” a nail that has already been severely warped or damaged; you’ll have to wait for it to grow out.
However, if you want an immediate cosmetic improvement, Sole Serenity Spa (located upstairs from our office) offers KeryFlex Nail Restoration. This safe treatment resurfaces and sculpts your nails using a medical grade resin, giving you a nail that looks and feels natural.
KeryFlex does not treat the fungal infection, but it allows you to reap the cosmetic benefits right away while your podiatry team works to cure the fungus. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, we’d be happy to refer you to Sole Serenity!
Take Care of Your Toenails Post-Treatment
Remember that, like many common infections, treatment won’t make you permanently impervious to re-infection. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about foot hygiene and care after your treatment, so your fungal toenails don’t come back!
- Wash and dry your feet every day.
- Treat any fungal skin infections, such as athlete’s foot, promptly if you develop them.
- Wear breathable socks and shoes.
- Change socks and shoes whenever they get damp. Rotate shoes so that they get a chance to air out before wearing them again.
- Use antifungal powders or sprays in your footwear daily.
- Avoid going barefoot in public locations.
- Avoid sharing unwashed clothing, towels, or linens.
When comprehensive treatment (including laser therapy) is combined with preventative care at home, the overall success rate for eliminating fungal toenails—and keeping them away for good—is very high.
So if you’ve long ago given up hope that your fungal toenails could be cured, now is the time to try again! There’s never been a better time to get those healthy toenails back.
To schedule an appointment with us in Commerce Township, give us a call today at (248) 360-3888.
It's Time To Leave Foot & Ankle Pain Behind!
*NOTE: Appointment request times are not guaranteed, nor do they constitute a scheduled appointment. Once you submit your request, a member of our staff will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your appointment time. For your safety and privacy, please do not submit any Protected Health Information (PHI) through the contact form found on this page.
Phone Number
Location
9640 Commerce Rd Suite 102 Commerce Township, MI 48382
Hours
| Monday | 8:30am – 5:00pm |
| Tuesday | 9:00am – 5:00pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am – 5:00pm |
| Thursday | 9:00am – 6:00pm |
| Friday | By Appointment |
| Saturday | - Closed - |
| Sunday | - Closed - |
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