It’s a hot summer day and you’re getting ready to relax by the pool. You reach for your shoes - and pick out a nice pair of sneakers. Wait, sneakers at the pool? If you frequently find yourself making uncomfortable footwear decisions due to the dry, cracked, yellowing, or crumbling appearance of your toenails, you might have onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails. Fungal nail infections, while often a source of embarrassment, are actually quite common, affecting 36 million people in the United States, for example. These infections are notoriously difficult to treat and may carry additional health risks for people who have diabetes or immune system disorders. One potential treatment for fungal toenails is laser therapy, in which the affected nails are exposed to a beam of light that kills the fungus hiding below the nails’ surface. For the majority of patients, laser treatment is quick, painless, and effective. To learn more about laser therapy for treatment of fungal nail infections, speak with your podiatrist today.

Laser treatment can be an effective way to get rid of toenail fungus. If you have any questions about laser treatment, consult with Dr. Dean D. Hinners from Illinois. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality treatment for fungal nails.

What Are Toenail Fungal Infections?

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of the nail, is a relatively common and non-serious condition. Around 10 percent of U.S. citizens are afflicted with fungal nails. Common forms of fungus that infect the nail include dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.

Symptoms of Toenail Fungal Infections Include:

• Nail thickening
• Brittleness of the nail
• Discoloration of the nail

Diagnosis for Fungal Nails

Fungal infections are diagnosed by fungal culture and microscopy. This will rule out any other conditions such as nail trauma, psoriasis, lichen planus, and onychogryphosis.

What Is Laser Treatment?

Laser treatment is a non-invasive, safe, quick, and painless procedure that uses the heat from a laser to kill fungus in the nail. Each infected nail is targeted with a laser for several minutes. The treatment is usually utilized several different times over a select period. During this time, a podiatrist will keep an eye on the infection.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Metropolis and Eldorado, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.