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Foot health often gets overlooked until something goes wrong. One of the most common issues people face is onychomycosis, also known as a fungal nail infection.
While many see it as a cosmetic nuisance, it goes beyond appearance. Left untreated, onychomycosis can lead to discomfort, pain, and even affect how you walk or move. Fortunately, effective treatments are available, including advanced laser therapy that tackles the infection at its source.
What is Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal disease that primarily affects the toes, although it can also affect the fingernails. By infiltrating the nail plate and underlying nail bed, the fungus makes the nail thick, brittle, discolored, and often painful.
Common Causes of Onychomycosis
This condition often develops due to several factors.
- Wearing closed-toe shoes for long periods creates a warm, moist environment where fungus thrives.
- Walking barefoot in communal spaces such as gyms, locker rooms, or pools increases the risk of exposure.
- Excessive sweating can also make the feet more vulnerable, as can a weakened immune system.
- Skin conditions like athlete’s foot may pave the way for nail infections as well.
How Onychomycosis Impacts Foot Health
Nail Damage and Thickening
The infection often causes nails to thicken and become brittle. As they change in structure, trimming them becomes difficult and sometimes painful. Severe thickening can push against shoes, creating discomfort and leading to secondary issues like calluses or blisters.
Pain During Movement
Infected toenails can make it painful to run, walk, or stand for extended periods of time. Thickened nails can press into the skin or surrounding toes, altering your natural movement. This added strain can eventually affect balance and how you walk.
Higher Risk of Secondary Infections
A fungal nail infection breaks down the natural protective barrier of the nail and surrounding skin. Once this barrier is weakened, bacteria can enter more easily, creating additional infections. For people with diabetes or circulation problems, this risk is especially serious and can escalate into major complications.
Self-Confidence and Nail Appearance
Many people with fungal nail infections feel self-conscious about the appearance of their nails. Thick, discolored, or misshapen nails may lead them to avoid social activities where feet are visible, such as swimming or wearing sandals. This behavior change can have a lasting effect on lifestyle and confidence.
Spread to Other Nails and Skin
Onychomycosis doesn’t remain confined to one nail forever. Without treatment, it may spread to other toenails, fingernails, or the surrounding skin. This often leads to conditions like athlete’s foot, creating more discomfort and difficulty.
The Importance of Treating Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis rarely improves without treatment. Over-the-counter remedies may help in mild cases, but they are generally ineffective for moderate to severe infections. Choosing the best treatment for Onychomycosis in Toronto, ON, is necessary to restore nail health and prevent worsening complications.
Traditional treatments include topical creams or medicated nail lacquers. While these can be helpful in minor cases, they often struggle to penetrate the nail plate. Oral antifungal medications are stronger but carry risks such as liver toxicity and other systemic side effects. In severe cases, nail removal has been considered, though it can be painful and inconvenient.
Advancements in technology now allow for safer, non-invasive alternatives such as laser therapy for nail fungus. This method targets the infection directly and avoids the drawbacks of traditional options.
Laser Therapy for Nail Fungus Works
At Lips Boutique, Fotona ClearSteps™ offers an advanced approach to treating fungal nail infections. Unlike chemical-based solutions, this nail fungus treatment uses Nd:YAG laser energy to penetrate deep into the nail and surrounding tissue.
Targeted Energy Delivery
The laser is directed to the infected area, heating and destroying fungal organisms without damaging healthy tissue.
Deep Pulse Heating
Unlike topical products that only reach the nail surface, the laser’s energy goes deeper, targeting the fungus beneath the nail where it grows.
Stimulated Healing
The laser also encourages natural nail regrowth. As new nails grow in, they appear healthier and clearer.
Fotona ClearSteps™ is safe, comfortable, and requires no downtime. This toenail fungus cure is one of the best treatments for onychomycosis available today.
What to Expect During Fotona ClearSteps™
Before Treatment
Your provider will carefully examine the nails and may clean or trim them to prepare for laser therapy.
During Treatment
Controlled pulses are applied to the nail by the laser. The majority of patients mention a slight warmth.
Comfort Level and Time
Depending on the number of nails being treated, each session typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes. There is no need for anesthesia or numbing.
After Treatment
There is no downtime after the procedure, allowing you to resume daily activities immediately. The nails will continue to grow naturally, and improvement becomes noticeable with each new cycle.
Results Timeline
Toenails grow slowly, so results become clearer over several months. Most people benefit from multiple treatment sessions for optimal results.
Benefits of Treating Onychomycosis with Laser Therapy
- A Safe and Non-Invasive Solution: Fotona ClearSteps™ does not require medication or surgical removal, making it a safe choice for many patients.
- No Harsh Side Effects: Unlike oral antifungal medications, laser therapy avoids systemic risks such as liver toxicity.
- Direct Targeting of Fungus: The laser goes beneath the nail surface to destroy the infection at its root.
- Stimulated Natural Regrowth: In addition to removing fungus, the treatment promotes healthy nail growth over time.
- Convenient with No Downtime: Sessions are quick, comfortable, and require no recovery period.
Clear, healthy nails restore more than just appearance. Treating Onychomycosis in Toronto, ON, relieves pressure and discomfort, reduces the risk of secondary infections, and helps maintain proper balance and gait. Many patients also feel more confident participating in activities that show their feet.
Get Expert Treatment for Onychomycosis Today
Onychomycosis can affect comfort, mobility, and overall foot health. Lips Boutique in Toronto offers Fotona ClearSteps™ laser therapy, a safe and effective solution for restoring healthy nails.
Don’t let fungal nail infections hold you back. Get Expert Treatment for Onychomycosis Today and take the first step toward clearer nails and healthier feet.
