Treatment

The goal of treatment with the Lunula Laser is to have clearer nails. Nail fungus itself is very difficult to completely kill; comprehensive management is recommended to maximize the treatment effectiveness and to help prevent recurrence of the abnormal-appearing nails.

Lunula Laser sessions are convenient and painless. Each session takes only twelve minutes per foot. The initial Lunula Laser treatment is four sessions at one week intervals. Assessment for additional treatment sessions will be made after 3-4 months, with ongoing evaluations thereafter.

The Lunula Laser is in the regenerative class of lasers and operates on two wavelengths. One wavelength is thought to boost and augment your own immune system to attack and kill the fungus. The second wavelength improves blood flow to the nail bed and is thought to help your body grow and regenerate a more clear and healthy nail. This process takes time. You may see improvement beginning to occur at the base of your nail after 3-4 months. Toenails grow slowly, however, and it will take 12-18 months maximum for clear nails to develop. Please be patient.

A very important part of your comprehensive management is managing reinfection and minimizing repeat exposure to the fungus. Our recommendations are as follows:

• Family members and those close to you should be treated if also infected.
• The skin of your foot is likely to also be infected by the fungus. We will give you a prescription for an antifungal skin cream which should be used daily.
• You should obtain chlorhexidine soap, and wash your feet with this while bathing. This is a very powerful anti-microbial soap which can be purchased from Amazon or most pharmacies.
• You should keep your feet as dry as possible. Fungus thrives in moist, dark environments. Using moisture wicking socks instead of cotton will help.
• If you frequent nail salons, choose wisely. The fungus is contagious. If you are selecting a nail polish color at the salon, you are likely to also be “selecting a fungus”. Consider bringing your own nail polish.
• The fungus is in your local environment including floors, carpet, bathtubs, showers, socks and shoes. These items should be regularly disinfected, sanitized or discarded if necessary.
• Although topical antifungal medication is minimally effective as a primary treatment, they are useful as a part of comprehensive management and prevention. There are many options, and some “natural” products have been reported to be as effective as or more effective than prescription medications. Some to consider are: honey bee propolis, tea tree oil, and Vick’s vapor rub. You should research these online.
• There are a number of vitamin supplements which have been reported to improve the health of your nail. One commonly recommended supplement is biotin. You should purchase a high quality product from a trusted supplier.

Remember that you likely developed the fungal nail infection because your body’s local immune system was unable to fight off the environmentally acquired fungus. Further complicating factors include a number of medical conditions such as diabetes and psoriasis. Trauma (injury) to the nail can also expose you to the fungus. This injury could be a very definite impact type injury, or could be repetitive mild impact from shoes or certain activities.

The point to remember is that you are prone to this problem: either by nature or by lifestyle. So, you are also prone to reinfection. The Lunula Laser will help to activate your local immune system to attack the fungus, while improving blood flow to help your body grow and regenerate a clearer nail. Comprehensive management recommendations should become a regular part of your lifestyle to maximize your clinical response and minimize reinfection.

Periodic repeat Lunula Laser treatments may be necessary to help maintain your clear nails. These are painless, and are always provided at a discounted rate.