Laser treatment for toenail fungus is the use of laser beams to kill fungus that has infected a person’s toenail. In most cases, people with toenail fungus use oral medications or topical treatments to treat toenail fungus, and some even use home remedies. Laser treatment is another treatment option. Unlike other treatment options, it is said to kill toenail fungus instantly, though an individual will usually have to wait months to see the results.
When a person chooses to undergo laser treatment for toenail fungus, a laser light is aimed at the toenail. The laser light shines through the toenail and destroys the fungus. The individual’s nail, however, and the surrounding tissues are left unharmed. Generally, the treatment can be accomplished quickly, and some patients only require a single procedure. Unfortunately, however, this treatment is typically expensive, and often, health insurance companies are unwilling to pay for it.
An individual may find laser treatment of toenail fungus an attractive option because it does not cause the side effects common with other types of treatments for the condition. Oral treatments for toenail fungus, for example, are often associated with a range of side effects. One of the most serious is damage to the patient's liver. On the other hand, a person who chooses to use laser treatment for toenail fungus is unlikely to experience any side effects from the treatment. Likewise, laser treatment has not been associated with any complications.
An individual may also be interested in laser treatment for toenail fungus because it can be accomplished so quickly. Often, laser treatment of toenail fungus can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, while oral treatments are often only effective after months have passed. Topical treatments may require even longer use, and some people spend more than a year trying them. Even worse, however, is the fact that some topical treatments fail, even after a person has diligently applied them for months.
While a laser treatment for nail fungus can be over very quickly, a patient may not see the results right away. In most cases, a patient must wait for new toenail to grow in before he sees dramatic results. For many people, a replacement toenail grows in over a period of about six to nine months. A person may see new growth beginning to form in the nail, however, after only about two to three months have passed.