Fungal infection of the toenail, also known as onychomycosis, is a common dermatologic disorder, affecting over 10% of the population and 40% over the age of 70, says Mark Lin and Wei Lee Sports Podiatrists at Footwork Podiatry in Sydney. While both fingernails and toenails can be infected, it turns out that infections of the toenails are more common. "This is an unpleasant condition which results in thickening, discolouration and splitting of the nail as well as lifting of the nail away from the nail bed," says Lin.
Lee says, The condition is often ignored because the infection can be present for years without causing any pain. If left untreated however, the infection can spread to the skin surrounding the nail, as well as to other nails." Lin warns, "If the nail bed and root of the nail become infected by the fungus, permanent and irreversible damage to the toenail can be expected. The nail will become thickened, distorted, discoloured and become very difficult to manage without podiatric care.
A larger issue is that infection can easily spread to other toenails or fingernails while trimming the infected toenail and even to other members of the family. Severe cases can lead to ingrown toenail and secondary infection. "The deformed toenails look unattractive and can have a negative psychological impact and even reduce quality of life," Lin says.
Lin says, Common treatments include topical and oral antifungal treatments, but these can be frustrating for patients due to the high rate of recurrence, and re-infection, often between 10% and 53%." Lee states, "Oral medications are generally more effective than topical antifungals, but treatment can take up to several months and is associated with higher risks of liver toxicity, adverse side effects and allergies.
Sufferers now have a new and highly effective treatment available. Fungal Nail Laser Treatment is a revolutionary new solution to treat fungal nail infections and has proven to be a safe and effective treatment. Laser Therapy is a relatively new modality and is already considered the most effective currently available treatment for fungal nail infection without any side effects.
"This cutting-edge laser technology has the ability to penetrate the nail safely to reach the colony of fungal spores beneath the nail." Said Lin. The laser irradiation delivers high energy pulses to precisely target the site of the infection with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. "Due to the light absorbing substance present in the fungus, laser irradiation results in the production of high levels of heat in the fungal cells, which effectively destroys the pathogen and resolves the infection," Lin continued.
Laser therapy treatment first gained popularity in the United States approximately five years ago and is quickly becoming the treatment of choice in managing fungal nail infections in Australia, as it offers far greater advantages over traditional treatment of fungal nails. "Fungal nail laser therapy is safe, has no side effects and is more effective for deeper infections," says Lee.
Mark Lin and partner Wei Lee of Footwork Podiatry are leading Sports Podiatrists in Sydney. Principal Sports Podiatrist and Director, Mark Lin says, Our revolutionary, multimodal, evidence-based treatments are what set us apart. We take top-quality care seriously, and our podiatrists undertake regular in-house training and are committed to ongoing professional development to expand their knowledge and continuously update their clinical skills.
Onychomycosis is a painful and unsightly problem, so Footwork Podiatry patients have their footwear sanitised using a unique ultraviolet (UV) Light Shoes Steriliser called SteriShoe. SteriShoe is clinically proven to kill up to 99.9% of the micro-organisms that live and thrive within most peoples footwear, and can cause Toenail Fungus, Athletes foot and other foot infections.
The information contained in this guide is provided in good faith and is not intended to be nor is it to be used as a substitute for any sort of professional, medical or podiatric advice. An accurate diagnosis can only be made following a personal consultation with a podiatrist. Any users should always seek the advice of their podiatrist, or other qualified healthcare providers before commencing any treatment.
