Foot & Ankle Surgery

Onychomycosis (Toenail Fungus Infection)

Toenail fungus is one of the most stubborn and difficult infections. Some traditional treatments that have been utilized in the past, include:

• Oral pills
• Topical creams, oils, ointments, gels, etc
• Removal of toenails
• Soaking feet in dilute vinegar and/or bleach

Topical Treatments

Topical medications are limited in their capacity for treatment of toenail fungus, simply because of lack of penetration into the substance of toenails. The medication does not reach all of the infected regions of the nail complex, which is the nail, the nail matrix, and the nail bed. For this reason, topical medications can be utilized in helping to prevent new infection and/or slow down the progress of active infection.

Oral Pills

The most effective treatments available prior to this new laser treatments, have been oral antifungal medications, which have the potential to cause severe problems with kidneys and the liver.

Removal of Toenails

This particular treatment modality does not irradicate this infection, although, the nail plate that is infected is removed. Fungal infection can continue in the nail matrix and nail bed, along the skin around the nail plate. Therefore, as a new toenail is being created, the existing fungal spors can potentially cause a new infection. This, in fact, is routinely seen in patients that have had their toenails removed, as an attempt to treat toenail fungus. Dr. Kosari does not recommend this treatment in most situations, simply because, the nail matrix can potentially get damaged, which can cause the new toenail to grow with deformity.

Soaking Feet In Dilute Vinegar & Bleach

Again, this type of treatment has not shown to be fully effective in irradicating toenail fungus. Prolonged application of vinegar and bleach can be harmful to human skin and are not designed for treatment of infections.

Dr. Kosari is proud to introduce the most advanced treatment modality for this problem: Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment. Lasers have been utilized in medicine for a long time. But until recently, this unique technology has been developed for treatment of toenail fungus. This is the most advanced and latest treatment modality that is available today, for improving the appearance of ugly, thick, discolored, and sometimes painful fungal toenails.