If your toenails completely change in appearance by becoming yellow, brittle, or thick, you may have nail fungus. Dr. Stephen O’Connell, and his team at Serenity Rejuvenation Center in Bellevue, Washington, provide laser nail fungus treatment using state-of-the-art equipment. To schedule an appointment, call Serenity Rejuvenation Center or book an appointment online today.
Nail fungus is more common on the toenails than the fingernails, and it’s a type of infection. Also called onychomycosis, the fungal infection starts on the dead outermost layer of skin and makes its way into the nail bed over time. It comes from a type of fungus called dermatophyte.
Anyone can get nail fungus, but it's most common in older men. It causes affected toenails to become:
Nail fungus is pretty unmistakable, so the team at Serenity Rejuvenation Center can typically diagnose it with a brief visual examination.
Fungal nails result from your nails getting weak and cracking, which lets pathogens like fungus into the nail in the first place. Other factors that play a role include poor circulation in the feet, which is common with age, and a weak immune system.
Nail fungus often migrates to the toes from an athlete’s foot infection. It’s much rarer to get fungal nails from someone else than from your own feet.
You can prevent nail fungus, or reduce your risk of getting it, by washing your hands and feet regularly. You should also dry your feet thoroughly before putting on socks or shoes, and change your socks throughout the day if you sweat a lot.
Some assume that a topical treatment would suffice for nail fungus. However, since the infection goes deep into the nail and doesn’t just sit on the surface, topical treatments aren’t always the best option. Both oral and topical antifungal treatments can be somewhat effective in treating fungal nails, but laser treatment is the most advanced option available.
The team at Serenity Rejuvenation Center uses a laser to destroy nail fungus in and around the nail bed. It leaves surrounding healthy tissue completely undamaged and takes just 20 minutes to complete. You don’t need anesthesia because the laser doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort: only a heating sensation.
After laser toenail fungus treatment, you don’t need to take the rest of the day off or have any downtime for recovery. You might need several sessions to clear away all of the infection.
Find out more about treatments for nail fungus by calling Serenity Rejuvenation Center or booking an appointment online today.
Dr. O Connell treats patients for laser hair removal, tattoo removal, dark spots, acne, muscle Emsculpt, and more. Call us to book your appointment today.