Lets start by talking about your options and their pros and cons when it comes to treating nail fungus;
Over the counter topical medications; this is by far the cheapest way to treat a fungal nail infection with costs ranging between $12 – $90 for a tube/bottle of anti-fungal medication. As many of you may have found out topical medications take perseverance and have a very low success rate (approx 5-10%). Many people start with these as they don’t require a prescription, and can be applied at home.
Oral Medication: To get this medication under prescription which significantly lowers the cost, you will need a doctors referral to get a sample taken of your nail. This takes approximately 4 weeks to get a result, approximately 50% of results come back with a false negative. This means that you may have an infection but is showing a negative result. If you do get a positive result then this treatment is an option for you.The success rate is around 65-75% There a potential harmful effects of the medication which include liver toxicity, you will need to discuss this with your Doctor.
Hot Laser: This system uses laser that is on a high frequency that effectively “burns” the fungi. The success rate is around 40-60%. The potential harmful effects of this treatment is permanent damage to the nail plate due to the heat of the treatment. Cost range dependant on the clinic.
Cold Laser (Lunula): This is the latest generation laser which uses 2 laser beams. The 1st laser weakens the cell wall of the fungi and the 2nd laser increases your bodies natural defence system to help it attack the fungi. The success rate is between 75-90%. There are no major side effects of this treatment and can be used on children and diabetics. The cost will vary dependant on how significant you nail infection is, as this will dictate how many treatment sessions you need.
Would you like to have clear healthy nails again? Without having to take potentially toxic oral medication? Lance Penn Podiatrist explains the different fungal nail treatment options
Your Health Will Effect Outcomes: All of the above treatments success rates will depend on your own health. People with poor circulation, diabetes, heart conditions, smokers and people with poor diets find that their treatment success rate is often significantly reduced due to these factors impeding the bodies natural ability to fight the disease. We often recommend seeing a nutritionist if people have a significant skin and nail infection.
Is Laser Worth The Cost?
So is laser worth the cost? Read on to find out if it is for you and the difference between hot vs cold laser. Click Here
