Fungal nail infection treatment options are wide and varied; there are several different options anywhere from prescription medication to over-the-counter paints and ointments and also several laser light treatments. In particular Thermal laser has become one of the gold standards for treating patients with fungal nail infections. Dr Brenden Brown, Podiatrist in Penrith, talks about fungal nail infections and 5 questions to ask anyone providing Fungal nail treatment.
Not all lasers are the same, and in particular, we are talking about Thermal laser. This laser uses both the laser light spectrum but more importantly, the temperature increase occurring in the nail bed, which is highly effective at killing both the live fungal infection and it's smalls or eggs.
Fungal infection and spores cannot live when exposed to temperatures above 40°C Celsius.
Fungal Nail Infections just love feet. Proper care needs to be provided to stop reinfection
Are Fungal Nail Reinfection Rates High?
An issue that occurs with fungal nails is the highly contagious nature of the fungal infection is meaning that it is both easy to contract and, despite having a successful treatment, easy to re-contract after your therapy - leading to high levels of reinfection without proper care and advice
Fungal spores are invisible and are not seen when living in nails. Any evidence of fungal infection on a toenail is the result of a past infection. What you are seeing when looking at the yellow or brown discolouration is the area that has essentially been attacked by the fungal infection.
Are Fungal Nail Spores Invisible?
The eggs that are produced by the fungal infection are completely invisible; they will often live in the other toenails and on the skin surrounding the nails with no evidence whatsoever. Be warned that if you do not treat these, they will simply wait till the treatment is completed on the nail you are treating and because the two toes are in such close proximity to will simply transfer across to the freshly treated nail
Is Thermal Laser advanced treatment the Answer for Fungal Nail Infections?
As a foot doctor or podiatrist with more than 24 years experience, this is one of the most frustrating conditions to deal with. Fungal Nail infections are notoriously difficult to beat.
In 2014 I travelled to the United States to investigate the emerging thermal laser treatment protocols. After this trip, I returned to Australia and introduced the thermal laser technology we now use in our clinics and now numerous others across Australia
As I am highly involved in this area, these are the questions I would ask before undertaking treatment with any clinic!
Here are 5 questions to ask any clinic before undergoing treatment for fungal nail infections.
1) Why is the clinic only treating one nail?
As I have explained fungal infection is are incredibly contagious and also riotously difficult to eradicate. The spores regularly live on at least 3 to 4 nails on each foot, despite the fact that these cannot be seen, it is estimated that there is a 97% chance that the other nails have live spores infecting them!
Treating one nail only that being the nail that has obvious signs of the past infection is most would suggest a guaranteed way of not successfully treating this condition
2) How does a patient treat the unseen fungal nail infection?
All clinics should address with the patients they see a number of after-care steps this includes eradicating the unseen spores that are living in numerous other areas, these include on your skin, in your shoes, in your socks, in your shower and living areas. Ask the clinic treating you how they suggest you Address these areas.
3) What system does the clinic have to keep the Fungal Nail Infection at bay?
It's fine to treat the infection while you are there but what after-care is the clinic suggesting do they have a thorough after-care protocol for patients to undertake. This is a highly contagious infection and to think that it only resides on the nails is either misinformed or naive.
4) What treatment do they advise for current footwear?
It is almost 100% positive that patients with fungal nail infections will have spores living inside the shoes, that they have been wearing while they have a fungal nail infection. If a clinic does not suggest patients should treat footwear that the client has been wearing, I will put forward they do not entirely understand how to manage this incredibly contagious condition. Find another clinic!
5) Are all Fungal Nail treatments the same?
Since later therapy for fungal nails was introduced to Australia, there have been a number of clinics add this technology as a way of increasing clinical turnover.
Unfortunately, they do not completely understand the condition or understand how to reduce the very high reinfection rate.
There is no way to prevent reinfection completely; however, without a significant Plan put in place it is almost a certainty that after treatment, it will quickly return. For this reason, it is important to ensure the clinic that is treating you has a thorough understanding of how to reduce this reinfection rate and to assist patients in beating this nasty condition.
How can we help?
We have treated thousands of patients with fungal nail infections literally. As one of the first clinics to introduce thermal laser technology, we are pioneers in the field and with this extensive experience have developed treatment protocols to overcome many of the problems surrounding the reinfection of nails. Yes, we think we are pretty good at beating this!
Our Doctors all fully qualified Podiatrists have extensive hands-on experience treating fungal nail infection.
Where to from here?
If you are serious about beating fungal nail infection and then the quickest and most effective way is to call our clinic on 9673 2987 we are based in western Sydney, with patients travelling from all over New South Wales to have this treatment due to our team's profession leading experience.
Our helpful front desk team have spoken to thousands of people with fungal nail infection and will help guide you through the suggested process and guide you to the best laser package for beating this.
ABOUT DR BRENDEN BROWN
Dr Brenden Brown, Podiatrist & Shendi Brown
Founder of A Step Ahead Foot + Ankle Care in Sydney, and former president of the Australasian Podiatry Council, Dr Brenden Brown (A.K.A Dr Foot) is a wealth of knowledge on how to take care of your feet, including how to find the best shoes.
Follow him on social media:
instagram.com/askdrfoot
facebook.com/podiatristsydney
twitter.com/AStepAheadFAC
Dr Brenden’s White paper report on the “6 Reasons You Won’t Beat Heal Pain” outlines what’s stopping you from beating this and tips on how to stop it in its tracks!