Fungal Toenail Treatment Specialist

What is toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is a common condition that can begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. As the infection goes deeper, toenail fungus can cause your toenail to become thick, brittle and discolored. The infection is contagious and can spread from toenail to toenail and person to person.

What causes toenail fungus?

Fungus loves the moist dark area under your toenail. The fungus is an organism that tends to feed on dead organic matter, like skin cells. It enters the toenail through a small cut or break and thrives there, in the dark.

Anyone can develop this problem, but it’s more common as you get older because the body is less able to fight infection. Despite what you might believe, toenail fungus is not a sign of poor hygiene. It’s simply a sign that you’ve had an injury that gave the microorganisms access.

What are the symptoms of toenail fungus?

Most people don’t have any noticeable symptoms. You may notice that the toenail thickens or becomes discolored. In some cases, there may be some pain, especially if you put pressure on the nail. A podiatrist like Dr. Woody or Dr. Jackson can look at a toenail and tell if there’s an infection. A small scraping can help identify the type of fungus growing and provide guidance on potential treatments.

Is toenail fungus dangerous?

It’s not a good idea to let any infection go without treatment. Another cut near the toenail could introduce the fungus into your bloodstream and lead to more serious health problems. Toenail fungus is especially dangerous for people who have difficulty hearing because of chronic illness like diabetes or high blood pressure.

How is toenail fungus treated?

Dr. Woodly and Dr. Jackson utilize a cutting edge laser treatment for toenail fungus that heals tissue ailment by injecting billions of photons of invisible laser light deep into the tissues. Human tissue naturally contains protein strands called chromophores, which have the unique ability to absorb laser light energy and transform it into chemical energy. This chemical energy is used by the body to significantly reduce pain and accelerate the healing process naturally. Laser is a safe, painless alternative to the injections in many cases.

Is the procedure painful?

No. The patient should have no pain or discomfort during treatment. However, some people feel a slight warming sensation.

How long does the treatment take?

The treatment takes less than 15 minutes.

When can I expect to see improvements?

On average, a toenail will replace itself every 9-12 months. Healthy, new growth will be visible after 2-4 months as the nails continue to grow following laser treatment.

Can I return to normal activities immediately?

Yes! You may return to your normal daily routine immediately after your toenail treatment.

Will my insurance cover laser treatment?

Laser treatment of nail and skin conditions is considered an aesthetic, cosemetic procedure by all insurance companies with coverage denied.

Will my Health Savings Account or FSA reimburse the fee for laser treatment?

In our experience some HSA and FSA accounts will reimburse the expense to the patient.