When compared to the claws of a tiger, the hooves of a horse, or the talons of an eagle, our toenails are quite pathetic.
A human’s toenails are made from the same substance (keratin) as claws, hooves, and talons, but evolution has drastically reduced the utility of our keratin amenities. Our modern toenails can sometimes be more trouble than they’re worth.
One common toenail problem comes from fungus
In temperate climates like that of the US, the usual troublemaking toenail culprits are fungi called dermatophytes. When dermatophytes invade under a toenail, the result is the yucky condition known as onychomycosis.
Seniors are especially vulnerable to onychomycosis. Only about 7% of those aged under twenty, and 20% of those from 30 to 60, suffer from toenail fungus. For those over sixty, the incidence rate jumps up to about 45%.
What are the symptoms of onychomycosis, in the order that they usually appear?
- A slowly growing white dot on the toenail.
- Discoloration of the nail. Parts of the nail turn yellow, brown, and/or white.
- The nail thickens and becomes warped or twisted.
- The nail becomes so brittle that it breaks easily, or even crumbles.
- The seal between the nail and its bed is broken. The nail loosens and begin to separate.
- The nail bed becomes painful.
- An odd and/or unpleasant smell emanates from the nail.
- The same process begins in another toenail.
For diabetics, toenail fungus is especially dangerous
Diabetics typically can have reduced blood circulation and nerve function in their feet. So any relatively minor foot condition, including a nail fungal infestation, may lead to more serious complications for diabetic patients.
Given all the above symptomology, it follows that harm from toenail fungus isn’t confined to your anatomy. The displeasing aesthetics and negative aroma (we mean ugly toes that smell bad) can lead to significant self-consciousness, and a determination to hide your feet at all costs. You discard all your sandals and open-toed shoes. There goes your summer at the beach.
Pretty dismal, right? But don’t give up hope. Effective help is available.
How to treat toenail fungus
Traditional remedies for toenail fungus include creams and ointments, both over the counter and prescriptive. But the efficacy of these preparations is limited. The dermatophyte fungi burrow between the layers of your nails. Because those nails are nonporous, it’s difficult for ointments to penetrate enough to take effect. The success rate for topical ointments is therefore quite low.
Systemic medications, taken orally, use a more direct approach to address the fungus. You take the pill, the medication is absorbed into your bloodstream, and the fungus is attacked within the nail formation process.
What are the problems with oral remedies for toenail fungus?
The side effects take center stage. They include headache, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes serious systemic reactions. Some of those side effects are so potentially hazardous that constant monitoring of liver function is required.
Another drawback of ointments and oral remedies for toenail fungus is the extended duration of treatment. Toenails grow slowly. The nail on a big toe can take well over a year to completely replace itself. So the traditional remedies must be administered for a correspondingly lengthy time period.
Even after successful treatment, fungal colonies often reestablish themselves.
Getting rid of toenail fungus with laser therapy
Given all the negative aspects of traditional toenail fungus treatments, it’s a very good thing that a relatively new approach provides markedly better results than either ointments or oral medication.
The Q Clear laser for treating toenail fungus
UFAI utilizes the FDA-approved Q Clear laser system to eradicate toenail fungus. This laser treatment provides the photomechanical disruption necessary to kill the fungal colonies.
The Q Clear system is painless. It’s so accurately targeted that there’s no adverse effect on the tissue surrounding the nail. It’s both safer and more effective than topical ointment or orally administered medicine.
How effective is the Q Clear laser system?
The Q Clear protocol is a significant improvement over earlier laser systems. In clinical studies, the Q Clear laser system demonstrated a 97% rate of significant clearance of each treated nail.
Most nails treated by a Q Clear laser achieve substantially complete improvement after only a single treatment. Each treatment takes only a few minutes. There’s nothing to recover from, so you immediately return to your ordinary activities. And all this without any pain or significant side effects.
Why choose University Foot and Ankle Institute for your foot and ankle care?
The physicians of University Foot and Ankle Institute have decades of successful experience diagnosing and treating toenail fungus. Our nationally recognized foot and ankle specialists offer the most advanced podiatric care and the highest success rates in the nation. We are leaders in the research and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (877) 736-6001 or visit us here to make an appointment online.
Our podiatrists take patients’ safety seriously. Our podiatry facility’s Covid-19 patient safety procedures exceed all the CDC’s coronavirus pandemic recommendations. Masks are always required in our institutes.
University Foot and Ankle Institute is conveniently located throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area as our foot doctors are available at locations in or near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Northridge, Downtown Los Angeles, Westlake Village, Granada Hills, and Valencia.
When not tending to patients at University Foot and Ankle Institute, Dr. Jafary utilizes his surgical expertise assisting those less fortunate. As a member of the Yucatan Crippled Children Foundation, he has traveled to Mexico several times and performed hundreds of limb correction surgeries on children with disabling foot and ankle disorders. Dr. Jafary also participates in Podiatry Overseas, which takes him to underserved countries to treat patients with lower extremity deformities.
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