New Use of Lasers For Nail Fungus Treatment

A growing number of medical professionals are using an pricey laser procedure they say zaps away a common fungus that brings about unattractive, discolored nails. Published facts on laser procedures for nail fungus is scant, but initial results suggest it is a reasonable alternative for people who don't like the uncomfortable side effects of oral medications.

Onychomycosis, or fungal contamination of nails—quite often on the toes—impacts roughly 12% of Americans, in accordance to the American Academy of Dermatology. A number of individuals are genetically prone to it. Other folks, including swimmers and other athletes, might be more likely to get it because they go barefoot in public areas or because their feet are often damp, scientists state. In its mild varieties, nail fungus is purely a aesthetic predicament, however over time it can cause toenails to grow abnormally and become sore when walking.

Toenail laser treatment presents a different choice to oral medication, which carries a threat of liver damage, and a nail lacquer, which has scanty value.

The expense of zapping nail fungus with a laser can reach $750 to $1,500 for a treatment path. It isn't normally covered through insurance. Whether or not you select oral medications or lasers, it can certainly take a year for nails to clear entirely.

To this point only one company's laser has received Food and Drug Administration approval, which is a simplified assessment process for medical devices, for toenail fungus: PinPointe USA Inc., of Chico, Calif., gained approval in October to sell its laser for "the temporary increase of clear nail" in patients, in accordance to the FDA approval letter. Two businesses, Nomir Medical Technologies Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y., which first applied in 2009, and CoolTouch Inc., of Roseville, Calif., have applied for FDA approval for the nail-fungus purpose and are waiting for an FDA decision.

A number of other lasers, approved by the FDA for other reasons, are being used "off label" by medical professionals to treat toenail fungus.

Solid proof of the lasers' effectiveness as a toe fungus treatment, is limited. In clinical practice, outcomes have varied, reported by doctors who have used the laser. New Jersey podiatrist Anas Khoury, who has no affiliation with any laser group, states he has been using Nomir's Noveon laser for toenails for about four months and affirms it works in about 80% of his patients. "My patients and I are very happy with it," he adds.

Philadelphia podiatrist Warren Joseph, who is a advisor for Nomir and a previous advisor for PinPointe, claims: "I think it is a really interesting, viable alternative but I want to see published data." His advice to patients: "Ask for the evidence—and not just before-and-after pictures."

Treatment options generally take 30 to 45 minutes for up to 10 toes. Depending on the severity of the problem and the laser used, patients may well need one to four sessions.

How the lasers perform varies and how they affect toenail fungus is not fully understood in cases. Nomir says its lab investigation demonstrates its laser kills fungus. CoolTouch says it believes its laser stunts fungal development, leading the way for the body's own defenses to clear the nail.

Up to now only Nomir has published proof of efficiency, but its research is small and short term. A company-funded review of 34 patients and 26 treated toes published last year in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association discovered that following four laser treatments, 85% of the nails showed new growth without fungus. Of the total, 65% showed at the very least three millimeters of clear new nail and 26% showed at least four millimeters. The investigation took its concluding measures six months after procedures, but hasn't thus far published the figures.

If you are willing to risk side effects, the best researched—and likely most reliable—therapy for toenail fungus remains oral medications such as Novartis AG's Lamisil, claims Bryan C. Markinson, chief of podiatric medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Markinson has been a compensated adviser to Novartis and owns stock in Nomir and serves on its medical-advisory board.

To put a stop to fungus reappearance, you must follow a meticulous hygiene program, including anti-fungal spray for feet and shoes, not going barefoot, keeping feet clean and dry and changing socks on a daily basis, doctors say.

"Patients and a few medical doctors have this expectation that since it's a laser therapy, as soon as you zap it and its gone for good states Dr. Markinson. "That totally ignores the fact that this is an infectious disease and that recurrance is a certainty" unless good prevention measures are taken.