Fungal nail infections can be stubborn and difficult to treat on your own, but thankfully, you don’t have to battle it solo. Our board-certified team at Manhattan Podiatry Associates in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, New York City, are experts when it comes to diagnosing and treating fungal nail infections.
We offer laser toenail treatment — a 20-minute procedure that’s more effective than topical treatments for severe infections.
If you’re tired of dealing with yellow, flaky nails and foul odors, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Read on to learn how laser toenail treatment works.
Laser toenail treatment is a noninvasive treatment that uses light energy to fight a group of fungi called dermatophytes.
During your procedure, your podiatrist uses a specialized laser that emits a specific wavelength of light. This light penetrates your nail and attacks the fungus at its source.
The pigment in the fungal cells absorbs the light, which causes those cells to break down without harming your surrounding skin or nails.
This precise approach makes laser treatment a safer and more effective alternative to medications, which often take longer to work and may have side effects like itchy skin and abdominal discomfort.
Each session lasts about 20 minutes, and depending on the severity of your infection, you may need multiple sessions. Laser toenail treatments don’t hurt, but you may feel slight warmth.
As your nail grows out, you’ll gradually see clearer, healthier nail tissue replace the infected area. While results take time — it can take 12-18 months for a toenail to completely regrow — laser treatment works faster and more effectively than many other treatment options.
Now that we’ve covered how laser toenail treatments work, let’s talk about why it’s important to consider professional treatment rather than struggle week after week with over-the-counter products.
Prompt podiatric care with laser toenail treatments can help:
If you have diabetes, you’re more prone to all types of infections, including fungal infections. The bad news is that even a minor toenail infection can lead to serious health risks.
Fungal infections can create small cracks or openings in your skin, which can increase your chance of bacterial infections and slow-healing wounds.
Laser treatment helps eliminate the infection before it causes further harm to your toe.
Untreated fungal toenail infections can spread beyond your nail and cause painful skin infections like cellulitis. In severe cases, the infection can enter your bloodstream — a serious condition called sepsis. People with diabetes are most prone to severe secondary infections like these.
Laser treatment effectively eliminates the fungus at its source and prevents it from spreading to other parts of your body.
Fungal infections can make your toenails thick, brittle, and discolored. Not only does this affect their appearance, but it also impacts their function. Laser treatment works faster than topical medications and clears the infection at the root so healthy nail tissue can grow back sooner.
We get it — it’s not always easy to talk about fungal infections, but the sooner you reach out, the sooner you can get help. You can contact our team by calling our location of your choice today or scheduling an appointment online anytime.
