This is a little bit of a different topic for me, but I worked in veterinary medicine for eight years and the clinic I worked at had a laser I would assist with for procedures. Human medicine has always been a side interest for me too.
I also personally know individuals dealing with onychomycosis and maybe some of you do too. I have heard of anti-fungal pills, but there are so many potential side effects that it can be scary to consider. Here is a new treatment option with a PinPointe Foot Laser and information regarding onychomycosis. Laser treatment is also often applied for removing leg hair.
Overview:
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail that impacts more than 35 million people and is commonly passed from person to person in showers and locker rooms. Typically, it does run in families and some people are genetically predisposed to the condition. It is the most common disease of nails and constitutes about a half of all nail abnormalities, with the ability to spread from foot to foot and person to person.
While there are products/treatments available that claim to cure Onychomycosis, many have negative side effects, such as liver damage/failure, heart failure, headaches, skin rashes, and changes in taste sensation. Perhaps most importantly, almost none of those treatments are safe for children or teens under 18.
This information is from Dr. Dan Waldman, a podiatric physician and surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, Asheville and Charlotte, NC:
“For the last 3 years I have been helping my patients clear the ugly fungus from their toenails by using the PinPointe Foot Laser. The procedure usually takes on 30 to 40 minutes and is done without anesthesia. There are no activity restrictions afterward but I do educate my patients on proper foot hygiene to avoid reoccurrences. To date I have performed close to 1500 procedures and find about a 90% successful outcome.
What Is Pinpointe?
The PinPointe Foot Laser is the first laser to be granted FDA Clearance for this condition. It is unique in the physics of the laser pulsing method which provides a better outcome than other lasers I have used. Though it does generate some heat during the procedure most patients find the treatment very comfortable. Prior to the treatment I take digital photos of the nails to serve as a baseline to evaluate progress quarterly. I then trim the nails (but do not remove the nails). Once the nails are prepared I laser each affected nail and then provide written easy to follow instructions for home care which involves keeping the inside of shoes clean and dry, a topical anti fungal medication to use on the toenails daily. I do not use oral medications since I’ve found the risks of liver damage to outweigh the benefits. Why risk your liver over a toenail fungus when we can simply laser it away?
Side effects?
There are no side effects to the PinPointe Foot Laser that I have encountered.
Cost?
Costs vary on the extent and duration of the fungus invading the toenails. Fees can range from $500 to $1200. This includes a full year of follow up evaluations and one to three treatments as needed. Since this treatment is cosmetic (think teeth whitening) insurance companies do not cover the procedure. Health Savings Accounts often do though. Our office offers Care Credit which allows for a full year to pay for the procedure at no interest.
For an informative video and patient testimonials please go to www.ToenailHelp.com or call me at 828-254-5371. Happy Feet!”
Here are some amazing images featuring before and after with PinPointe:
Please note in last photo-numbers are placed upside down and right side up-they are the same toe.
The PinPointe Foot Laser is an option to consider for a loved one who is battling onychomycosis and is in search of other treatment options.
