How to treat toenail fungus? Toenail fungus can be very difficult to treat. When you consult with a foot specialist, he or she will diagnose your condition.
Nail Fungus Symptoms
Nail fungus can be diagnosed by its symptoms: yellow discoloration, thickness, and crumbling of the nail. The most common or traditional way to treat toenail fungus is by taking oral medication. There is also a new efficient way with laser treatment.
Oral Medication
Oral antifungal drugs are the traditional type of treatment for toenail fungus because they can be more effective than topical treatments. The commonly prescribed medications are Lamisil and Sporanox.
It is typically taken in a course of six to twelve weeks. This medication helps the nail grow free of fungus infection. To see full results, it may take 6 months or longer for the nail to fully grow out
Before taking medication, you have to be aware that these drugs may cause side effects such as skin rashes and it can increase your liver toxicity levels.
It can cause liver damage so when you are under this medication, you are required to undergo occasional blood tests. The success rate with this type of treatment is usually lower for people over the age of 60. It is also not recommended for people with liver or heart disease.
Safer Options?
Laser treatment for toenail fungus works by using laser light to penetrate through the nail and target the fungus. The laser kills the fungus due to heat damage. The PinPointe Laser typically requires one treatment. It has about an 85% success rate and does not come with any side effects. The treatment is not painful, but you might feel some warming sensation that will not harm the skin surrounding your nail.
Laser Treatment for Nail Fungus
If you have caught nail fungus, it can be easily treated using the FDA-approved PinPointe laser, which typically only takes on treatment. Other treatments like topical solutions and oral medication are not as effective. Topical solutions have a very low cure rate. This is because the solution does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed. This is because it can lead to liver toxicity. You would need to have consistent blood tests throughout the course of taking the medication.
Our nail doctor in Tampa, FL recommends this treatment for toenail fungus. The PinPointe Laser treatment has the highest cure rate in the market. It has no side effects and no recovery period. As a result, you can go about your daily activities right after the treatment. Also, there’s no pain.
If you have any signs of nail fungus, call us at (813) 725-3269 our Tampa, FL location, or visit our website for more information on our doctors at one of our over 150 locations.
