What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus has the potential to infect one or multiple toenails and, in some cases, even fingernails. The progression of this infection is often slow, gradually developing over several months or even years. By the time it becomes noticeable, the infection is typically quite advanced. Interestingly, ladies may be unaware of the development of a fungal nail infection due to the concealment of visual symptoms by nail varnish.
The identifying characteristics of nail fungus are primarily visual in nature. Initially, white streaks or patches may appear on the surface of the nail, serving as the first visible indication. As the fungal infection progresses, the affected nails may take on a yellowish or brownish hue, with a tendency to spread between the toes. Subsequent signs include thickening of the nails, followed by nail brittleness and an unpleasant odour.
How to treat nail fungus
At this stage, it is crucial to note that nail fungus often coexists with athlete’s foot infection, which is another fungal infection. Athlete’s foot can manifest between the toes or on the underside of the feet and heels. Treating both the nail fungus and the athlete’s foot infection together is necessary. This is because fungal infections produce spores that can spread the infection to other areas. Therefore, the skin can infect the nails, and vice versa. While athlete’s foot creams can be used to treat the skin, various options are available for addressing nail fungus.
- Oral Medication – available via your GP called terbinafine may be prescribed. However, it is important to acknowledge the potential risks of liver and kidney complications associated with this approach. It is strongly recommended to have a thorough and informed discussion with your GP before embarking on this path.
- Topical treatments – available via your pharmacy, can be applied as per product advice. These treatments can be effective for fungal infections in the early stages, but they are often found to be ineffective for more advanced cases.
- Cold laser therapy – this form of treatment is very effective for even advanced nail fungal infections. At Waverley Foot Clinic in Farnham, Surrey, we provide a painless and sensation-free treatment using laser beams within the cold spectrum. The recommended course entails five 12-minute treatments for either a single foot or both. Following the initial treatment, we offer follow-up appointments at four and eight weeks to monitor progress in resolving nail fungus and athlete’s foot infection.
Cold laser therapy
Lunula ‘cold’ Laser
Waverley Foot Clinic
Our website has detailed information relating to cold laser therapy for fungal nail infections.
Media interest in cold laser therapy
The press and TV media have been very interested in the development of cold laser therapy to treat nail fungus.
Waverley Foot Clinic – book an assessment
To schedule an assessment, please reach out to Waverley Foot Clinic at 01252 716611. During the session, we’ll provide a comprehensive explanation of Lunula Laser Therapy and address any questions that you may have.
