It probably began innocently enough: After spending your summer relaxing at the pool or taking advantage of your new gym membership, you noticed a simple white or yellow dot just under the tip of your toenail. You might not have even thought much of it, at least not until your nail started growing thicker, turned yellowish-brown, and then began crumbling along the edge.
Its unsightly appearance is only one reason you should eradicate a toenail fungal infection as soon as possible. Left untreated, a fungal infection can spread to the surrounding skin, other toenails, your fingernails, and even to other people.
Here at Jeffrey Kleis, DPM, we don’t waste time with antifungal nail creams that can take up to a year to work if at all or prescription oral medications that may come with unwanted side effects. Instead, we use advanced laser technology to destroy fungal organisms without harming nearby skin or nail tissues.
Here’s how we can help you say goodbye to toenail fungus for good.
Stubborn toenail fungus
The fungal organisms that infect your nails (called onychomycosis) are common, incredibly hardy, and relatively easy to catch. They thrive in warm, moist environments and don’t need light to survive; they’re also so small they can invade your skin through a microscopic cut or an otherwise insignificant separation between your toe and your nail.
Although toenail fungus generally doesn’t cause discomfort early on, it can become painful as it progresses. Advanced-stage fungal infections can even make it difficult to wear shoes without discomfort.
An advanced approach for optimal results
It’s best to treat toenail fungus as soon as possible before it’s had a chance to spread deeper into your nail bed or infect your surrounding skin or your other nails. Traditional treatment methods like medicated nail creams and liquids are rarely effective and oral antifungal medication may get the job done, but requires several blood tests to help avoid liver damage.
As a podiatrist who always strives to provide the latest and most innovative treatments available, Dr. Kleis is proud to offer noninvasive laser therapy, a cutting-edge approach that can eradicate even the most stubborn fungal infections safely, gently, and effectively.
By sending tiny pulses of laser energy through your nail to target the underlying fungus, laser therapy effectively destroys the invading microorganisms and clears up the infection without damaging your nail, skin, or surrounding tissue.
A typical antifungal laser treatment takes just 30 minutes, and most people need just one or two treatment sessions to achieve results.
Two laser options
Dr. Kleis uses two state-of-the-art laser devices to get rid of toenail fungus: the GenesisPlus™ by Cutera®, and the Q-Clear™ laser platform to destroy fungal cells. After going over your medical history and assessing the severity of your infection, Dr. Kleis can determine which laser will work best for you or if a combination of both will be most effective. Dr. Kleis is the only doctor in California to combine the use of these two lasers to kill nail fungus.
Although you may feel a warming sensation as Dr. Kleis goes over your nail with the laser, the treatment itself isn’t uncomfortable and doesn’t require anesthesia. Plus, you can get right back into the swing of things as soon as your session is over without any recovery time.
Preventing future fungal infections
Here are some of the best ways to prevent a future toenail fungal infection:
- Wear footwear in locker rooms, public showers, and pool areas
- Disinfect your nail clippers regularly, and don’t share them with others
- Choose nail salons that use properly sterilized tools, or bring your own
- Wear socks made of absorbent material, and change damp socks
- Choose shoes made of breathable materials, and discard old shoes
If you’re ready to banish toenail fungus for good, Dr. Kleis is ready to help — call the office in Costa Mesa, California today, or schedule an appointment with our convenient online booking tool.