The answer is yes.
If you have toenails that have turned thick, brittle, yellow, or are difficult to trim, you may have toenail fungus. This common condition can be very persistent and difficult to get rid of, even when patients use over-the-counter remedies for months or even years.
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that develops underneath the surface of the nail. It’s possible for the fungus to be there for a long time before the patient ever has symptoms. According to the Cleveland Clinic, medical experts estimate that onychomycosis affects 1 in 10 people, and that number jumps to 1 in 2 for people older than 70.
At Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, we know that fungal nail infections can be embarrassing; however, we also know they’re more than a cosmetic problem. When you make an appointment with us, we’ll help you understand what’s happening beneath the nail and offer treatment options that will help take care of this condition for good. Here, we discuss Remy laser therapy that can help restore your nails to health.
Toenail Fungus: What Causes it?
There are a variety of ways fungus can develop under your toenail, including the following:
- Too much moisture. Fungus loves a damp, dark place. Ideal conditions include non-breathable footwear, sweaty shoes, and wet socks. These types of damp conditions allow fungal organisms to grow and spread under your toenail.
- Walking barefoot in public places. You can contract toenail fungus through exposure in public spaces, such as pools, public showers, locker rooms, and gym floors. If you walk barefoot in these places, it’s easy for fungus to transfer to your nails or skin.
- Foot trauma. If you wear tight shoes or place constant pressure on your feet, it can create splits and cracks in the skin. These gaps in the skin allow fungus to get through. Once the fungus slips under the nail plate, it’s harder to treat, and professional treatment is usually necessary to help ensure the infection—which can become resistant over time—is eradicated.
Remy Laser Therapy Explained
Remy laser therapy is a safe, drug-free option that uses targeted light energy to treat fungal infections at the source. This light therapy uses a specific wavelength of light to penetrate the nail plate and reach the fungal infection underneath. It addresses the fungus more effectivity because topical creams and can’t break through the nail’s hard surface. Remy laser bypasses that barrier entirely—delivering energy deep into the nail bed where the fungus lives.
Remy Laser Treatment Works This Way
- The treatment causes thermal disruption. The heat from the laser damages the cellular structure of the fungus. This basically kills or disables its ability to reproduce.
- The laser’s wavelength is selective. It’s designed to be absorbed by fungal cells, but there is minimal absorption by the surrounding healthy tissue.
- The treatment preserves surrounding tissue. Because the laser targets the pigment and water content of the fungus, it preserves the healthy skin and nail tissue surrounding the fungus.
Remy laser therapy is a precise and powerful treatment that doesn’t involve trimming nails, applying chemicals, or risking systemic side effects from medication.
Not Like Other Treatments: How Remy Laser Is Different
Remy laser is a class IV medical laser, offering adjustable power settings, various wavelengths, and specific protocols for foot fungus. This makes it versatile and customizable based on the severity of the infection and the patient’s sensitivity level. Compared to other laser systems, Remy offers:
- Faster treatment times. Most sessions last 10–20 minutes.
- Pain-free sessions. Patients typically feel a warming sensation, not pain, so there’s no need for anesthesia or numbing agents.
- No downtime. You can walk out and resume daily activities immediately.
- No oral medications. There’s no risk to liver function and no need for blood monitoring.
The Success Rate of Remy Laser Therapy
No two patients have the same severity and duration of toenail fungus, but clinical research supports the effectiveness of laser treatment for this skin condition:
- Published studies about laser therapy for onychomycosis report a success rate from 65 – 85%.
- Many patients see visual improvement in nail clarity after just 1–2 treatments.
- Generally, the best results for laser therapy present after a series of 3 – 4 treatments.
Because toenails grow slowly, it may take many months for the affected nail to grow out fully, even after the fungus is gone.