Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment

What is a Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus is so widely prevalent that one in every 10 Americans, which is about 23 million people, suffer from it. The agent responsible for nail fungal infections is usually a member of the group of fungi called dermatophytes. However, the toenail fungus may also be caused by yeasts and molds. They may enter a persons skin through microscopic invisible cuts, or via a small space that exists between your nail and nail bed. Toenails are usually kept dark, warm and moist inside a persons shoes, which is the ideal environment for the fungi to thrive in. This is the reason why these infections usually occur in the toenails rather than the fingernails.

When an infection attacks one or more of your toenails, it usually starts out as a white or yellow dot beneath the tip of ones toenail. As it progresses and extends deeper into the affected nail, the toenail begins to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges. This is not only unpleasant to witness, it could also turn very painful. Toenail fungus infections are difficult to treat and are known to recur. While there are many toenail fungus home remedies and medications, most are said to be only partially or temporarily effective. For this reason, toenail fungus laser treatment is a breakthrough that may be an effective lasting toenail fungus cure.

Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment
At present, there are two major players in the field of laser treatment for toenail fungus. They are the Patholase Pinpointe Foot Laser and the Noveon Laser. The Noveon Laser produced by Nomir Medical Technologies is currently in use to treat cataract surgery, dental work and even hair removal. It will treat toenail fungus by directing two different wavelengths of near-infrared light at the fungi with the objective of killing it. While it has been cleared for use on skin and in nasal passages, in the month of July, it was still awaiting FDA approval for toenail fungus treatment.

Reports published in July this year stated that the Patholase Pinpointe Foot Laser had not yet been approved by the FDA. However, it was being used since 2001 in dentistry. Based on this approval, Patholase begin marketing the device. However, manufacturers are required to wait for FDA clearance before marketing the medical device for the use. This treatment costs $1,000 or more, and is not covered by health insurance.

At present, Americans are spending an approximate of about $1.26 billion annually on toenail fungus treatments. These include oral and topical prescriptions, along with numerous toenail fungus home remedies such as Vicks VapoRub, tea tree oil, Clorox and Listerine. The need for toenail fungus cure is likely to increase, as new studies show that it can be spread when infected people walk bare feet in locker rooms or on carpets, and when they remove their shoes and socks. And if in case this condition is not viewed as a 'serious problem', it can turn into a serious one in people who have diabetes and immune system disorders.

At this point of time, as toenail fungus laser treatment is new, it is best to wait for a year or two, to check if the treatment is offering a lasting cure. This would provide one with a chance to see if the initial positive results stay the same or the fungus recurs after a short while. More reasons to wait are that the equipment is in the process of being approved, and treatment is expensive.