Fungal Nail Infection can be embarrassing , especially as we want to swap our boots for our sandals at this time of year!

The medical term is onychomycosis. It is most commonly found in the toenails and is usually caused by a dermatophyte. There are 4 patterns of nail involvement, with differing clinical considerations. It is very important to confirm the diagnosis before considering any treatment strategies going forward.

Topical therapies, such as Loceryl can be useful in some circumstances, but systemic treatment is typically needed to cure the disease. However, there are potential side effects from the oral drugs, hence laser treatment has become increasingly popular. Appropriate laser wavelength and energy can kill off the fungi, allowing the nail to recover without the risk of systemic side effects at all.

Proof of nail infection is required before embarking on any treatment. Some GPs will carry out this test for you. Alternatively this test can be carried out in the clinic with us at the same time as your initial consultation. The test results can take up to 3 weeks to come back.

We usually carry out laser treatments at 4 week intervals and 3 treatments are initially undertaken. A topical agent is usually prescribed at the same time, partly to reduce the risk of re-infection occurring.

If you have a fungal nail infection and would like our help, contact us today.