Laser Treatment For Fungus Nail using Fox Podiatry Laser
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Dr James has started performing laser treatment using Fox Laser with the Class 3b and 4 laser license in 2017. We are proud to say many patients benefit from the new technique to date.
The FOX Laser is a revolutionary Podiatry device, able to generate high power levels from a portable lightweight design. It is the most versatile Podiatry laser currently available on the market, and outperforms much larger laser units with it’s incredible 10 Watt – 12 Watt continuous power. |
The FOX Laser is 100% designed and manufactured in Germany by A.R.C. Laser – world leader in medical lasers for over 20 years.
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What is Fungal Nail Infection/ Onychomycosis?
Fungal nail infection, is one of the most common nail disorder presented in adults. The fungus- trichophyton rubrum and mentagrophytes are the most common causative pathogens of onychomycosis.
Common signs of a fungal nail infection include:
There are several conditions that can mimic onychomycosis, including psoariasis, atopic dermatitis, nail trauma, contact irritants, and lichen planus.
Traditional treatment options for fungal nail infection can often range from no therapy, palliative care, mechanical or chemical debridement, topical or systemic oral antifungual.
However such treatment options are often limited, ineffective and posses an unpleasant side effects and can cause liver, kidney problems.
Read more about Fungal Nail Infection Here
How Laser Works on Fungal Nail?
Photodynamic therapy ( Laser therapy) had been proposed to treat T. rubrum infections and promising results were obtained from many researches. The exact mechanism of how does the laser works is still unknown; however it was thought that laser works by heating up the infected nail bed to >55-60 degree Celsius henceforth initiating protein denaturing of the fungal cells and causing collagen coagulations resulting in clearance of the nails and possibly nail growth.
Treatment Process:
The fungal nail laser treatment takes between 15 minutes to half an hour to perform and generally requires between 1-3 sessions depending on the pattern of infection present, thickness of the nail, and duration of infection. This is at the discretion of our Podiatrist, and is discussed with patients at their initial assessment on a case-to-case basis.
In most instances however we recommend up to 3 sessions are performed, with each session spaced one month apart.
We have observed routinely satisfactory clearance of the infection in patients having this treatment after 6-9 months, and no associated complications.
Fungal nail infection, is one of the most common nail disorder presented in adults. The fungus- trichophyton rubrum and mentagrophytes are the most common causative pathogens of onychomycosis.
Common signs of a fungal nail infection include:
- a distorted nail that may lift off from the nail bed
- an odor coming from the infected nail
- a brittle or thickened nail
There are several conditions that can mimic onychomycosis, including psoariasis, atopic dermatitis, nail trauma, contact irritants, and lichen planus.
Traditional treatment options for fungal nail infection can often range from no therapy, palliative care, mechanical or chemical debridement, topical or systemic oral antifungual.
However such treatment options are often limited, ineffective and posses an unpleasant side effects and can cause liver, kidney problems.
Read more about Fungal Nail Infection Here
How Laser Works on Fungal Nail?
Photodynamic therapy ( Laser therapy) had been proposed to treat T. rubrum infections and promising results were obtained from many researches. The exact mechanism of how does the laser works is still unknown; however it was thought that laser works by heating up the infected nail bed to >55-60 degree Celsius henceforth initiating protein denaturing of the fungal cells and causing collagen coagulations resulting in clearance of the nails and possibly nail growth.
Treatment Process:
The fungal nail laser treatment takes between 15 minutes to half an hour to perform and generally requires between 1-3 sessions depending on the pattern of infection present, thickness of the nail, and duration of infection. This is at the discretion of our Podiatrist, and is discussed with patients at their initial assessment on a case-to-case basis.
In most instances however we recommend up to 3 sessions are performed, with each session spaced one month apart.
We have observed routinely satisfactory clearance of the infection in patients having this treatment after 6-9 months, and no associated complications.
Laser Treatment for Warts
Solitary Warts Treatment
The FOX laser is commonly used as a final step in procedure, to accurately burn remaining tissue/ leftover infected cells; the laser intense power is able to vaporize viruses and destroy infected cells. The advantage is that it doesn’t cause extensive tissue damage, it’s precision optical hand pieces are designed to target only very small areas and allow for superior precision and minimal tissue damage (as well as faster healing).
-abstracted from ARC laser website
Mosaic Warts Treatment
Coagulation is a non-ablative treatment, achieved by applying focused laser radiation, which dry the wart by coagulating its capillaries; laser radiation eradicate the Papilloma virus, since IR laser radiation causes intense heat at a sub dermis level. The dried tissue will separate from the healthy tissue underneath and fall off during the following days. In some cases blistering may appear, which promote the healing process.
Regardless of the treatment approaches undertaken, warts may return requiring further treatment. If there is no response to treatment, further diagnostic evaluation may be necessary. In such cases, the surgeon can perform a biopsy to rule out other potential causes for the growth.
-abstracted from ARC laser website
The FOX laser is commonly used as a final step in procedure, to accurately burn remaining tissue/ leftover infected cells; the laser intense power is able to vaporize viruses and destroy infected cells. The advantage is that it doesn’t cause extensive tissue damage, it’s precision optical hand pieces are designed to target only very small areas and allow for superior precision and minimal tissue damage (as well as faster healing).
-abstracted from ARC laser website
Mosaic Warts Treatment
Coagulation is a non-ablative treatment, achieved by applying focused laser radiation, which dry the wart by coagulating its capillaries; laser radiation eradicate the Papilloma virus, since IR laser radiation causes intense heat at a sub dermis level. The dried tissue will separate from the healthy tissue underneath and fall off during the following days. In some cases blistering may appear, which promote the healing process.
Regardless of the treatment approaches undertaken, warts may return requiring further treatment. If there is no response to treatment, further diagnostic evaluation may be necessary. In such cases, the surgeon can perform a biopsy to rule out other potential causes for the growth.
-abstracted from ARC laser website
Laser Treatment for Vascular Lesion
Vascular Lesions
Telangiectasia, Spider Veins, Campbell De Morgans Spots
Telangiectasia is a condition were the small blood vessels were dilated. This can happen frequently in the foot due increase in sitting and prolonged standing secondary to faults with valves. During a typical coagulation treatment, laser radiation will be absorb within the vessel resulting in visible color change – from red to light gray (for capillaries) or from blue to dark grey (small veins) ; these will indicate that a proper coagulation was performed.
The laser is extremely effective in coagulating small lesions, as it’s infrared radiation is effectively absorbs in hemoglobin (and oxyhemoglobin).
The treatment is done with an optical handpiece that precisely focus the laser beam spot to absorb in the lesion. Cooling and topical anesthesia are needed. A single treatment is usually sufficient to get rid from many common skin lesions. Treatment should not cause any pain or discomfort! -abstracted from ARC laser website
Telangiectasia, Spider Veins, Campbell De Morgans Spots
Telangiectasia is a condition were the small blood vessels were dilated. This can happen frequently in the foot due increase in sitting and prolonged standing secondary to faults with valves. During a typical coagulation treatment, laser radiation will be absorb within the vessel resulting in visible color change – from red to light gray (for capillaries) or from blue to dark grey (small veins) ; these will indicate that a proper coagulation was performed.
The laser is extremely effective in coagulating small lesions, as it’s infrared radiation is effectively absorbs in hemoglobin (and oxyhemoglobin).
The treatment is done with an optical handpiece that precisely focus the laser beam spot to absorb in the lesion. Cooling and topical anesthesia are needed. A single treatment is usually sufficient to get rid from many common skin lesions. Treatment should not cause any pain or discomfort! -abstracted from ARC laser website
