Just outside of Los Angeles, along the Southern California coast of the Pacific Ocean, lies the City of Long Beach. Home to just under half a million residents, Long Beach is the 7th largest city in California, by population, and the third-largest city in Southern California.
Incorporated in 1897, the City of Long Beach served as an escape from the summer heat for residents of Southern California. The Port of Long Beach began drawing more and more shipping activity and oil was discovered in 1921. Oil field development and growth of the shipping industry grew the city from an amusing tourist destination to an economic force in Southern California.
The Port of Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach is one of the busiest shipping ports in the world, moving the second largest number of containers among ports in the United States. The Port serves as a major gateway for trade between the US and Asia, generating approximately $100 billion and employing more than 316,000 people.
The Port of Long Beach was established in 1911 as an expansion of the San Pedro Breakwater, which began in 1899. The Port was built on 800 acres of mudflats that had formed over centuries at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. By 1926, more than one million tons of cargo was moving through the port, requiring the construction of additional piers.
In 1971, Toyota established Long Beach as their Western Distribution Center, after a 55-acre container and car import terminal was built along the Pier J expansion. As the activity in the port increased, so did the Port Authorities efforts to control debris, oil spills, and waste in the port waters. These efforts earned the Port of Long Beach the American Association of Port Authorities Environmental “E” Award, the first port in the US to receive such an award.
The Pike at Long Beach
Established in 1897, the City of Long Beach was originally a seaside resort town offering an escape from the city’s summer heat. Sunbathers and swimmers flocked to the sandy beaches, drawn by the cool ocean breeze. As the beach grew in popularity, a large public bathhouse was built. Soon, a beach-side “amusement zone” resembling a small fair or carnival, appeared along the shoreline.
Known at varying stages as “The Pike,” “Silver Spray Pier,” “Nu-Pike,” and “Queen’s Park,” the amusement zone offered arcade-style games, food vendors, gift shops, rides, and a bathhouse. The Pike was most famous for its over-the-water roller coaster, the Cyclone Racer.
In the 1970s, the City of Long Beach began redeveloping the area along the coast, eliminating the recreational beach and moving the Pike to a tourist-oriented shopping mall and entertainment zone called The Pike Outlets, located between the Long Beach Convention Center and the Aquarium of the Pacific. The new Pike offers shopping, dining, a megaplex cinema, an outdoor amphitheater, a Ferris wheel, and an antique carousel.
Long Beach Oil Field
The Long Beach Oil Field reaches beneath the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill, CA and out under the Port of Long Beach. Discovered in 1921, the area contributed to the oil output of the Los Angeles Basin, which provided 1/5 of the nation’s oil supply during the early 20s. In 1923, the Long Beach Oilfield was the richest in the nation, producing more than 68 million barrels of oil.
The Long Beach Oilfield is still in production today, producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.5 million barrels of oil each year. While the community doesn’t try as hard as Los Angeles to hide their oil pumps inside sound-proof buildings, they do often place them behind fences or screen them off with walls or landscaping.
The Beaches of Long Beach
The Coriolis Effect along the Southern Coast of California keeps the temperatures up to twenty degrees cooler than they are just a few miles inland. In most of Southern California, the coastal regions experience a Mediterranean climate with moderate year-round temperatures. Long Beach is no different, with winter temperatures that remain in the mid-sixties and summer temps that hover in the upper 70s to lower the 80s. Just a few miles inland, and especially in the middle of Los Angeles, summer temperatures can soar into the 100s at the height of summer.
Visitors and residents of Southern California flock to the beaches of Long Beach, seeking relief from the summer heat. Long Beach offers a number of beaches for visitors to choose from, including Alamitos, Belmont Shore Beach, Colorado Lagoon Park, Granada Beach, Rosie’s Dog Beach, City Beach, Marine Stadium Beach, Mother’s Beach, and Peninsula Beach.
Alamitos Beaches
Three different beaches bear the name Alamitos: Alamitos Bay Beach, Alamitos Beach, and Alamitos Park Beach.
Alamitos Bay Beach
Alamitos Bay Beach is located along the western side of Alamitos Bay, between East 2nd Street and Ocean Boulevard. The street is closed along Bay Shore Avenue during the summer to ensure the safety of those enjoying this popular beach. Street parking for Alamitos Bay Beach can be found along Bay Shore Avenue and Ocean Blvd. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at the beach.
Alamitos Bay Beach
Bay Shore Ave and E Division St
Alamitos Beach
On the western end of Long Beach City Beach lies Alamitos Beach. Named for Alamitos Avenue, which runs nearby. Alamitos Beach is wide and sandy, offering plenty of room for sunbathers to spread out. Sand Volleyball courts are located along the beach and bikers enjoy the paved path that runs east to the Belmont Pier. The port blocks the breakwaters needed for surfing. Parking is available in a lot off Shoreline Drive.
Alamitos Beach
Alamitos Park Beach
Located at the far south end of the peninsula, next to the channel entrance to Alamitos Bay, you’ll discover Alamitos Park Beach. The park offers a small grassy area with picnic tables and palm trees and lies next to the Peninsula Bayside Beach on the side toward the bay. The Alamito Park Beach lies on the side facing the ocean, at the south end of the Peninsula. Calm waters lie off the beach, perfect for swimming but not for surfing.
Alamitos Park Beach
72nd Place
Long Beach, CA 90803
Toenail Fungus Is No Walk in the Park in Long Beach
For residents of Long Beach who suffer from toenail fungus, a day at the beach is no walk in the park. Thick, unsightly toenails can be embarrassing, keeping sufferers from enjoying simple pleasures like taking their shoes off and feeling the sand between their toes. Thick, brown toenails are a common result of toenail fungus infections, making maintenance and grooming of toenails difficult and sometimes painful.
Thickening Toenails
If you notice that your toenails are getting increasingly thick and difficult to cut, you may have a toenail fungus infection. The microbes that cause toenail fungus flourish in dark, moist places. You can come into contact with the microbes that cause toenail fungus in places like public pools or showers. Wearing tight shoes while doing sweaty work or exercising can also give fungus an opportunity to take root in your toenails.
In the beginning, toenail fungus is difficult to spot, but you may notice that your toenails start to thicken and get more and more difficult to cut. This is a sign that you have a fungus infection in your toenails and should seek treatment.
Dr. Kleis is the leading provider for laser nail fungus treatments in Southern California. He has successfully treated hundreds of patients for toenail fungus infections, restoring their natural beautiful nails. Before your toenails get any thicker, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Kleis to see if laser toenail treatment is right for you.
How To Cut Thick Toenails
If you have toenails that are thick and difficult to cut, it can be helpful to soak your feet for ten or fifteen minutes in warm water before trying to cut the nails. For extra pampering, try adding some Epsom salts to the warm water, creating a soothing foot bath and softening the nails so they will cut more easily.
Once the nails are softened from the foot soak, use very sharp nail trimmers and make short cuts along the top of the nail, being careful not to split the nail down into the nail bed. Be sure to clean the instruments between each toe so that you don’t spread the toenail fungus infection from one toe to the next.
Thick Toenail Treatment in Long Beach
Very thick toenails are a sign of toenail fungus infection. If you have thick, unsightly toenails that are difficult to cut or maintain, you may need to treat the cause with toenail fungus treatments using laser technology.
Laser toenail fungus treatment is one of the most effective treatments for thick toenails and is free from any side effects. The treatments are painless and don’t require any anesthesia or pain relief afterward. The lasers treat only the infected tissues, targeting the fungus organisms in a way that won’t damage the healthy tissue around the nail.
Pulsing laser technology avoids overheating the tissue around the nail and ensures that the treatments aren’t uncomfortable. The fungus infection is destroyed, usually in a single session, and your nails will grow out beautiful and normal, no longer thick and ugly.
To inquire about laser treatment for thick toenails, call Dr. Kleis at (714) 760-4944
Toenail Fungus Symptoms
In the beginning, toenail fungus can be hard to spot. It can look like a white or yellow spot under the tip of the toenail. The first symptoms of toenail fungus can be so slight, however, that most people don’t know they have it until their toenails start to thicken and become misshapen.
Symptoms of toenail fungus infections include:
- Thick Toenails
- Misshapen Toenails
- Discolored Toenails
- Flaky Toenails
- Toenails That Fall Off
Thick, brown toenails are an indication that you likely have a toenail fungus infection. Fungal infections can also give you discolored toenails that are white, green, yellow, or black. Toenails that flake off and crumble are also a sign of toenail fungus.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kleis today to discuss a course of treatment that will have you rushing to put on sandals once again!
Toenail Fungus Pain
The fungi, mold, and yeast that cause toenail fungus infections do not cause pain in and of themselves. However, if left untreated, the nail will often become thick and distorted, making the wearing of shoes extremely uncomfortable and causing pain when standing or walking.
Aside from being uncomfortable, the fungus infected nail will sometimes lift off the nail bed, creating a gap where bacteria can grow. Bacteria cause infections that can be painful and often smell bad. If you have distorted toenails that are causing you pain or have an odor that you can’t seem to get rid of through proper hygiene, you should schedule a visit with Dr. Kleis to have your condition evaluated. Whether you are suffering pain from a toenail fungus infection or a bacterial infection, Dr. Kleis can recommend the appropriate course of action.
How do I know if it’s toenail fungus?
There are a number of conditions that look similar to toenail fungus. The only way to know for sure is to see your podiatrist. He or she will perform an examination and may need to take a scraping of the nail for lab analysis. Once toenail fungus has been diagnosed, treatment can be prescribed.
What is the best treatment for toenail fungus?
The best treatment for toenail fungus is lasers. Clinical studies show that 80% of patients showed clear toenails after a single treatment. It is important to note that the treatment kills the fungi, but it can take up to a year for the toenail to completely grow out and eliminate the appearance of toenail fungus. But, that doesn’t mean the fungus isn’t gone. Lasers kill toenail fungus, usually in a single treatment, using heat to kill the fungus or mold cells without causing discomfort to the patient.
Toenail Fungus Treatment
There are several different treatments for men and women suffering from toenail fungus. Oral medications are extremely effective in clearing fungal infections but have been shown to have moderate to severe side effects including: diarrhea, upset stomach, rashes, liver damage, and even heart failure. Many patients with other health problems aren’t candidates for oral medication because of the serious nature of the possible side effects.
Topical treatments for toenail fungus do not have side effects but can be less effective than oral medications in clearing up the infection. Topical treatments have to penetrate the nail in order to attack the fungi living beneath the nail surface. If the topical medications aren’t able to penetrate the toenail, the fungus won’t be eliminated.
Laser treatments for toenail fungus are shown to be most effective with the least chance of side effects. Patients in poor health are still candidates for laser toenail treatments, as the laser treatment doesn’t require any anesthetic or carry any side effects. Laser treatments are fast and effective, leaving patients with clearer nails with zero recovery time.
Toenail Fungus Medication
There are several prescription oral medications for toenail fungus, as well as several topical medications. Oral medications must be taken for several weeks to several months and can have serious side effects.
Topical medications are less effective than oral medicines, as it can be difficult for the medications to penetrate the nail and attack the fungus beneath. However, topical medications do not have the same side effects as oral medications.
Laser nail fungus treatments are effective and have zero side effects. Nearly all patients report at least some improvement in the appearance of their nails after just one treatment and a clinical study reported no adverse side effects from laser use.
Toenail Fungus Removal
Dr. Kleis uses three different lasers in his office to remove toenail fungus. The Cutera Genesis Plus and the Q-Clear lasers allow Dr. Kleis to use different light wavelengths to penetrate the nail and kill a wider spectrum of organisms within the nail. The cool laser treatment employed by the LunaLaser application has been proven effective for treating onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, in four separate clinical trials. The laser targets the fungus and stimulates new, clear nail growth using a dual diode delivery mechanism that targets only the infected tissues. The treatments are painless and don’t take more than a half-hour in the physician’s office.
Most patients experience improvement in the appearance of their toenails after a single laser treatment. Removing toenail fungus with lasers is pain-free and doesn’t require any recovery time.
For an evaluation of your onychomycosis and to see if you are a candidate for laser treatment for toenail fungus, visit Dr. Kleis.
Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus
Dr. Kleis uses three different lasers to treat toenail fungus. The Cutera Genesis Plus, LunaLaser, and the Q Clear lasers allow Dr. Kleis to target a wider range of the microorganisms that cause toenail fungus. The cool laser treatment employed by the LunaLaser application has been proven effective for treating onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, in four separate clinical trials. The laser targets the fungus and stimulates new, clear nail growth using a dual diode delivery mechanism that targets only the infected tissues. The treatments are painless and don’t take more than a half-hour in the physician’s office.
Laser treatment for toenail fungus poses no risk, as there are no side effects. The entire procedure is pain-free and no recovery time is required. Patients report a slight warming sensation in the area that is targeted by the laser treatment, but the healthy tissues remain unharmed, allowing them to return to normal activity as soon as the procedure is complete.
For an evaluation of your onychomycosis and to see if you are a candidate for laser treatment for toenail fungus, visit Dr. Kleis.
Types of Toenail Fungus
There are several types of toenail fungus. Medical terms for toenail fungus are onychomycosis and tinea unguium.
Onychomycosis
The most common fungi to cause toenail infection is Trichophyton rubrum or T. rubrum. T. rubrum causes onychomycosis, a condition that causes the nail to raise up from the nail bed. Usually, this process begins at the end of the toe, raising the toenail up and eventually causing the toenail to become thick and flaky. This condition is often accompanied by athletes foot between the toes or on the bottom of the foot.
A less common form of onychomycosis is called “proximal subungual onychomycosis” and starts at the base of the toenail, at the cuticle. From there, the toenail begins to raise up and spread toward the tip of the toenail. This form of onychomycosis is most often seen in patients with diabetes.
Yeast Onychomycosis
Candida is a common form of yeast that can cause yellow, brown, white or thickened nails. Patients with Candida toenail or fingernail infections often have yeast infections in their mouths, as well. Candida fungal infections cause the nails to flake off and exposes the nail bed underneath. Candida infections are sometimes accompanied by paronychia, an infection of the cuticle around the nail.
Onychomycosis Treatments
Onychomycosis can be treated with oral medications, topical medicines, or laser treatments. Oral medication carries risks of side effects and topical medications have a hard time penetrating the nail to kill the fungus. Laser treatments, however, have proven effective against all types of toenail fungus and have no side effects. The laser treatment is painless and won’t harm healthy tissue, eliminating the need for anesthesia or pain medication after the treatments.
Laser Onychomycosis treatments last about thirty minutes, during which the patient experiences a warming sensation where the laser is focused, but no pain. The laser light heats the fungal organisms, killing them without harming healthy tissue. Patients are able to return to normal activity as soon as the treatment is concluded.
White Superficial Onychomycosis
A toenail fungus most commonly found in tropical environments is called white superficial onychomycosis. This fungal infection typically has a powdery white material on the top of the nail and is caused by a fungus known as Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
White Superficial Onychomycosis Treatment
Laser toenail fungus treatment is effective in treating white superficial onychomycosis. The treatment is painless and only takes about thirty minutes. Nearly all patients report clearer, more beautiful toenails after a single laser treatment.
For more information about laser treatments for white superficial onychomycosis, call Dr. Kleis at (714) 760-4944
Tinea Unguium
Another name for toenail fungus is Tinea Unguium. Tinea Unguium causes toenails to become thick and discolored. Infected toenails often become thick and misshapen, difficult to cut or care for. Discolored nails may be green, yellow, brown or black. Toenails infected with fungi can also be thick and flaky or begin to crumble. Sometimes toenails even fall off due to toenail fungus infection.
If you have thick, unsightly toenails, call Dr. Kleis for a consultation. He can diagnose your toenail problem and help arrange for the treatment you need to restore your beautiful, natural nails.
Yellow Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus infections can cause your toenails to get thick and unsightly. Often, toenails will become discolored, turning yellow as they grow thick and ugly. Toenails that are infected with toenail fungus are hard to care for and can make men and women self-conscious. Left untreated, toenail fungus infections can cause pain and discomfort upon walking. The toenails become so thick and misshapen that they create pressure and pain when standing or walking.
Yellow Toenail Treatment
Toenail fungus can be treated most effectively, and with the fewest side effects, using laser toenail therapy. Dr. Kleis is the only laser care center in Southern California to offer two different laser machines that can target a wider range of fungus causing microorganisms. Using the Cutera Genesis Plus and the Clear Q lasers, Dr. Kleis can treat yellow toenail infections in a way that ensures a high success rate with no side effects for his patients.
LunaLaser Treatment For Onychomycosis (Toenail Fungus)
The cool laser treatment employed by the LunaLaser application has been proven effective for treating onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, in four separate clinical trials. The laser targets the fungus and stimulates new, clear nail growth using a dual diode delivery mechanism that targets only the infected tissues. The treatments are painless and don’t take more than a half-hour in the physician’s office.
For an evaluation of your onychomycosis and to see if you are a candidate for cool laser treatment for toenail fungus, visit Dr. Kleis. Schedule a consultation today by calling (714) 760-4944