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Are you fighting causes or cosmetics?
Some dermatologists use the laser against nail fungus. This is especially true for people who cannot tolerate tablets against the fungus – or for whom conventional treatment is too lengthy. Nevertheless, the laser treatment of nail fungus is still controversial in medicine.
Nail Fungus Laser – An Effective Treatment Alternative?
Just have the nail fungus lasered and enjoy beautiful nails – who wouldn’t want that? Individual case reports show success in treatment with the nail fungus laser: unsightly spots recede, the nail clears up again. However, there are no large-scale studies with several hundred patients. As a rule, the nail fungus laser is only used if the treatment with antifungal (antifungal) tablets has not been successful or is generally undesirable. This is the case with children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and older people, who often take a lot of tablets anyway.
The unclear study situation speaks against the laser of nail fungus. As before, science is not sure whether the nail fungus laser will also get to the roots of the fungi. Fungal spores, which can persist for a very long time, can also withstand great heat.
How does the laser work?
Most dermatologists practices use so-called pulsed lasers or pulsed lasers (mostly neodymium: YAG lasers), as approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA). These nail fungus lasers send their rays in small portions into the affected nails and inactivate the fungal structures there without damaging the nail and the surrounding tissue. Specific insertion depths and wavelengths are necessary for this, which can lead to painful sensations. Most publications are also available on pulse lasers.
The fungicidal effect of the laser is explained by:
the heat generated, which completely penetrates the nail plate and is supposed to kill the fungus. Oxygen radicals would be released by the laser and attack the fungus.
How does the laser treatment against the nail fungus work?
Before any nail fungus therapy, including laser treatment, a reliable diagnosis should be made. For this, infected particles of your nail have to be taken to the laboratory. The dermatologist proceeds with the conventional three-part therapy (grinding, nail polishes, tablets) if the result is there only that he uses the nail fungus laser in addition to or instead of the tablets.
The procedure of the dermatologist:
They are grinding or milling the thickened nail before starting the laser treatment. With the special nail fungus handpiece of the pulse laser, the dermatologist moves in meandering movements over the entire plate of the affected nail. The visibly affected areas are lasered particularly intensively.
Duration of treatment:
From two sessions in two months to a total of four to eight sessions every four weeks. There is no standard procedure, but there should be a month between each treatment.
The nail should lighten within eight to 16 weeks.
Tip: Since it cannot be ensured in the individual sessions that the laser kills all fungi, a nail polish containing active ingredients should be applied in addition to the laser treatment, e.g., Proclearz against nail fungus. The antifungal nail polish has the proven active ingredient proclearz, which kills fungal pathogens. The application is simple: apply the nail polish in the evening, leave it to work overnight, and wash off with water in the morning – the active ingredient remains in the nail. Since Proclearz is water-soluble against nail fungus, there is no need to file the nails and use nail polish remover.
Are there any side effects?
There are usually no side effects to laser nail fungus, but the heat generated can be uncomfortable or painful for the patient.
What is the cost of laser nail fungus?
Expect 80 to 100 dollars per session. You need four to six sessions; with a pronounced nail fungus over several nails, you have to reckon with at least eight sessions. The statutory health insurance funds do not cover the costs. However, some private health insurance companies contribute to the costs.
How safe is the nail fungus laser?
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved laser systems suitable for the treatment of nail fungus have existed since 2010. These are primarily so-called pulse lasers.
