Cold Laser Fungal Nail Treatment
Lunula Cold Laser Treatment
Are you embarrassed by your yellow fungal nails? Many people suffer from toenail fungus, leading to yellow toenails and nail infections.
The Lunula Cold Laser treatment is a revolutionary low-level laser therapy for treating painful, discoloured and disfigured toenails associated with onychomycosis (nail fungus).
Unlike other treatments, the Lunula Cold Laser promises no pain, risk, or recovery time. It kills the fungus that lives in and under the toenail; however, like most fungal treatments, it is not 100% guaranteed. The laser passes through the nail without damaging it or the surrounding skin. The Lunula Laser is a safe and effective treatment and poses none of the risks and harmful side effects of oral medications or surgical intervention.
How does the fungal nail laser work?
The Lunula low-level cold laser treatment is the gold standard for treating nail fungus. The Lunula Laser device produces two rotating laser beams that simultaneously cover a large area of the foot, completely treating all infected nails. The treatment is repeated weekly for four weeks, a commitment every patient must make to ensure a successful recovery.
Essentially, the Lunula laser works by utilising two lasers set at different frequencies. This laser nail fungus treatment works effectively to treat the infection both on the surface and below it, heading deep into the infected nails, nail bed, and surrounding skin, so you can rest assured knowing that the entire infection is being targeted.
The body also responds well to the fungal nail laser treatment, which helps to clear the infection and eliminate any remaining living toenail fungus in the nail plate.
There are two laser types used to treat fungal nail infections
Blue (405nm):
This effective laser acts directly and specifically on the fungal nail infection, causing changes in the outer wall of the fungal cells. This significantly weakens the infection so the immune system can fight it effectively. As a result, the nail is cleared of the fungal infection and begins to heal and grow successfully.
Red (635nm)
The Red (635nm) laser fortifies the body’s natural immune cells, making them more active and able to neutralise and destroy the weakened nail fungus. In addition, red light can stimulate and improve blood flow.
This additional blood flow brings nutrients and additional immune cells to the affected area, speeding up the treatment process.
The Benefits of Fungal Nail Laser Treatment
Cleanliness
No messy nail paints that take forever to dry and need to be reapplied every few days.
Convenience
Lunula Laser treatment for nail fungus has no side effects, unlike many alternatives that are invasive and painful.
No side-effects
Unlike other treatment options
Confidence
Research shows that Lunula Laser therapy has an 80% success rate, so you can be confident that you are giving yourself one of the best chances to reduce and eliminate your fungal infection successfully.
What you need to know
At your initial appointment
You will be required to make an initial consultation, during which the podiatrist will do a fungal swab test to diagnose and confirm the presence of a fungal nail infection. If an infection is present, we will photograph, trim, and file down your toenails with a specialised machine in preparation for treatment.
Before your laser therapy appointment
Please remove all nail polish, shellac, and artificial nails. At each appointment, we will also sterilise a pair of shoes for you to remove any fungal spores that could re-infect your nails. You may bring a different pair of shoes to each appointment; they only need to be sterilised once, and the shoes will not be damaged. We will also provide an antifungal spray and a strict antifungal/hygiene protocol for you to follow at home between sessions.
Treatment time
Treatments take 12 minutes per foot. The entire appointment should take no more than half an hour.
Ideally for
Onychomycosis, chronic fungal skin infections and athlete's foot (tinea pedis) as the entire foot receives treatment.
After your laser appointment
For optimal results, it is important to follow these instructions:
- Ensure you implement an antifungal regime at home to avoid reinfection and cross-infection of your nails.
- Avoid applying polish, shellac or acrylic to the infected toenail.
- Be patient. Toenails are slow-growing.
Follow up appointment
One month after completing the treatment, a follow-up appointment is scheduled to review the progress and re-swab the nails, ensuring no re-infection has occurred.
The Process of Laser Therapy
During the initial consultation, your podiatrist will advise on the best course of action to achieve optimal fungal toenail treatment outcomes.
Assessment & Treatment of Fungal Nails
We understand if you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious about an upcoming visit to your podiatrist to consult about your fungal nails. We’ve laid out exactly what to expect during your initial consultation.
During a fungal nail assessment, your Podiatrist will:
- Diagnose what is causing your nail infections and what benefits can be expected from cold laser treatment
- Explain the best self-management tips to help you achieve healthier-looking nails
- Ensure you leave knowing exactly what to do to finally get healthy, clear nails and ensure that the fungal toenail infections stay far away.
What to expect during your Lunula Cold Laser Fungal Nail Treatment
- The nails will be photographed and prepared (trimmed, nail thickness reduced if required)
- The laser treatment lasts 12 minutes per foot
- During the treatment, it will be pain-free.
- The lasers will not cause internal or visible harm to you in any way, as the machine uses very low-power settings
- The treatment will be repeated at weekly intervals. The number of treatments required will depend upon the severity of the nail infection, but on average, four sessions are required
- To prevent re-infection, you must follow strict foot hygiene protocols. We will go over all of this during the consultation
Did you know?
More than 10% of the population have nails that have been damaged by a fungal infection.
Tips to Prevent Reinfection
To ensure the success of your fungal nail treatment, it is essential that you minimise the risk of reinfection to promote healthy nail growth.
Some things you can do include the following:
- Dry and air shoes regularly.
- Spray shoes with antifungal sprays before and after treatments.
- Use UV light sanitiser to treat the shoes as an alternative. We will do one pair per consultation and are happy to do more for a small fee. Alternatively, you can purchase one of the machines to use at home.
- Wash socks in hot water and separately in an antifungal laundry detergent. We recommend Canesten Hygiene Wash, which is available at supermarkets and pharmacies.
- Wear slides or thongs in public showers and swimming centres.
- Use socks containing silver, or choose socks with natural breathable fibres such as cotton, bamboo or wool. This allows your feet to breathe, reducing the likelihood of reinfection.
- If you wear steel cap boots for work, ensure they are well-ventilated and leave them in the sun to dry following your shift so they can air out.
- Disinfect your shower floor and minimise micro-trauma to the nails.
- Wear correctly fitting shoes.
- Do not share nail clippers with other people.
Take the first step towards happy and healthy feet.
Ready to give your feet the care they deserve? Book your appointment online or call us and experience our expert podiatry services at any of our six clinic locations.