Nail fungus is an infection of the nail that causes discolouration, thickness, breakage and discomfort. The fungi responsible for toenail fungus can be found in warm moist areas that allow for the bacteria to thrive and increase, such as in ill-fitting shoes and unsanitary pool areas. Symptoms of toenail fungus include changes to the nail bed that signify breakage, discolouration or thickness.
There are various ways to treat unsightly nail fungus, but the question remains; which treatment option is best and/or fastest? Within this article we’ll compare treatment options and discuss the varying opinions of how long it takes to get rid of toenail fungus.
Topical Ointments
One notorious and widely used application for treatment of nail fungus is the use of topical ointments. Because the nail is hard to penetrate, this treatment option is best for incidents that are less severe and have yet to fully infect the entire nail bed. This treatment application takes the longest amount of time, and based on a recent study only 7 out of 100 participants who had used certain topical ointments were satisfied with the results. (Source https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279546/)
This treatment option can take up to a full year to see maximum results, and depending on the severity of infection may only provide minimal relief.
Oral Medications
Oral medications that are able to treat fungal infections include courses of prescription antibiotics. Unlike topical ointments, this application is able to kill fungi from inside the body. Some commonly used antibiotics are Terbinafine, Itraconazole, and Flucanozole. These antibiotics take anywhere from 3 to 4 months to complete treatment. Medications like Flucanozole can be prescribed for 6 months up to a year.
While oral medications have proved more beneficial than topical ointments, they still require a lengthy recovery time and still do not offer the most sufficient relief in terms of spread of infection and cosmetic damage.
Laser Fungal Nail Treatment
One of the most promising treatments for nail fungus is the newly adopted laser fungal nail treatment, offered at select foot and nail clinics. One way laser treatment works is through the use of heat to penetrate the skin and non invasively kill the fungi causing the infection. Research trials have proven this method of treatment to be 90% effective (Source https://health.usf.edu/care/dermatology/services-specialties/cosmetics/nail-fungus)
Coming in at the shortest amount of time to treat toe fungus; 83% of patients report clear, healthy nail growth 3 months after thermal laser fungal nail treatments. Between 5 to 6 treatments are required, all office visits under 30 minutes.
Similar to thermal laser fungal nail treatments, the cold (Lunula) laser is another quick and extremely effective treatment for toenail fungus. Unlike the thermal laser, the Lunula laser utilizes dual low wavelength lasers that are able to create physiological responses, absent of heat to not only kill infection causing fungus, but generate new tissues and encourage blood flow to speed up recovery to the affected area.
Between 2 and 4 treatments are needed for this treatment option, becoming the most efficient option to treat toenail fungus.
Which option gets rid of toenail fungus the quickest?
Topical ointments offer the least amount of treatment, with the longest recovery time. Following topical ointments, prescription medicines are not only lengthy with antibiotics taking up to a year to complete, but they are not without side effects and potential for negative interaction with other current medicines.
Nail fungus laser treatment is the quickest option for relief from such an infection, with the lunula cold laser trumping all lasers, and offering the quickest and most promising relief. Because this treatment option isn’t available at all foot and nail clinics, take advantage of its offering with Sunshine Coast podiatrists. Fungal Nail Laser Treatment can be completed in as little as 4 office visits, and give you relief from fungus without the side effects of oral medication or topical ointments.
Although fungal nail laser treatment is the overall best option for healing nail fungus, it is not widely available. This technology is clinically proven to work, however it comes with a high cost and for that reason, cold nail fungus laser treatment is not offered everywhere. Take advantage of this new technology with foot and nail clinics provided by Sunshine Coast Podiatrists. Experience relief from toenail fungus in the shortest amount of time with the lunula cold laser and save yourself time from any other lengthy applications and recovery times.
Contact Suncoast Podiatry today to discuss your laser toenail fungus treatment.