Laser therapy is a treatment fortoenail fungus infection (onychomycosis).
Fungal infections of the nails usually require several laser treatment sessions before they get better.
It may take three to 18 months of consistent treatment for laser therapy to be effective for toenail fungus.
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This article will cover what you should know about using laser treatments for toenail fungus.
With laser therapy, most people see noticeable improvement and there is a high cure rate.
One study showed a 61% cure rate at 16 weeks.
Another study showed 91% clinical improvement and a 30% cure rate at 180 days.
Laser treatment is associated with high rates of negative cultures.
That means a laboratory test for a fungal infection does not show evidence of infection after treatment.
Laser devices emit pulses of energy that produce heat.
The heat from the lasers also has a sterilizing effect, which helps prevent new fungal growth.
When used safely, laser treatment does not emit enough energy to destroyallthe tissue or all of the infection.
Therefore, repeat treatments are usually needed.
Safety
Laser treatment for toenail fungus has an excellent safety record.
It may be red to brown and tender, and may easily bleed.
Receiving treatment from a qualified and experienced provider greatly reduces this risk.
Alternative Treatments
Laser treatments are typically more effective than other treatments for nail fungus.
A nail fungus infection can sometimes be treated withtopical (on the skin) antifungal medicationsor oral antifungals.
There are alsoover-the-counter(OTC) andprescriptionoptions.
Topical treatments are generally considered safe but may not be effective.
However, there seems to be a range in terms of how well these different treatments work.
Using them consistently while avoiding side effects can be difficult.
Combining treatments might be more effective than using a single treatment.
What to Expect
Laser treatment for toenail fungus can typically be completed within one or two sessions.
The laser procedure itself is quick and simple, typically taking about 30 minutes to complete.
Your treatment will be administered by a dermatologist.
During the Procedure
Anesthesia is not needed for laser toenail fungus treatment.
Once your nail is prepped, the dermatologist will pulse the laser using selected wavelengths.
This helps minimize heat on the skin and reduces the risk of side effects.
As the tissue breaks down, you may have some pain and/or bleeding.
The provider may give you a topical antifungal cream, such as tioconazole, to apply to the nail.
verify you follow the provider’s directions carefully.
The skin will heal in a few days.
Any additional treatment sessions are typically spaced two to six weeks apart.
Signs of improvement in toenail fungus after laser therapy include:
Does Insurance Cover Toenail Laser Treatment?
Laser toenail fungus treatment is considered an elective, cosmetic procedure.
Unfortunately, cosmetic procedures are not covered by health insurance.
In general, expect to pay between $100 and $400 per treatment session.
Summary
Several types of laser therapy can treat toenail fungus.
It may take multiple treatment sessions to remove the nail fungus completely.
Laser toenail fungus treatment should be done by a board-certified dermatologist who is experienced in the procedure.
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