Onychomycosis, or nail infection, is a persistent fungal infection of the nail bed, matrix or plate. It is the most common nail disorder in adults, accounting for one-third of all fungal skin infections and up to 50 percent of all nail diseases. Toenails are affected more often than fingernails. The infection can cause nails to become yellow or discoloured. Advanced infection causes thick, brittle nails that often separate from the nail bed. It can also cause discomfort when wearing shoes or walking.
Menu
Nail Fungus
What is Onychomycosis?
“We always give our best to satisfy your needs”
What are the causes of Onychomycosis?
The most common cause of onychomycosis is dermatophyte fungus that invades the dead tissue of skin or nails. Other causes include contact with certain moulds or species of yeasts the overall prevalence of onychomycosis ranges from 2 to 14 percent of the population.
Where can you get Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is caused by contact with infective fungal agents. Since these agents are present everywhere in our environment, everyone potentially is at risk for infection. Common sources for infection could include public showers, swimming pools, nail spas and gyms. Nail trauma and tight fitting shoes can also lead to infection.
What are the symptoms?
One or more of the following symptoms may indicate that you suffer from onychomycosis. Distorted, thickened or discolored nails, yellow or white streaks on or under the nails, brittle, crumbly or ragged nails and nails that have separated from the underlying skin.
What are the treatment options?
Current treatment options include topical drugs and oral antifungal drugs. Topical drugs are applied directly to the nails daily for a period of 6 to 12 months. This treatment is often ineffective because the drug has difficulty passing through the nail to reach the site of the infection. Oral drugs can be effective and are usually taken for a period of 6 effective and are usually taken for a period of 6 to 12 months. However, there are many side effects associated with these drugs and in some cases weekly blood tests are required to monitor liver function.
What is ClearSteps™?
Clearsteps™ is a revolutionary new procedure for treating onychomycosis. It is a non-invasive laser procedure to treat the affected nail and skin. It is simple, quick, safe and effective.
How does ClearSteps™ work?
The treatment involves passing a laser beam over the infected nail and surrounding tissue, resulting in a photo-thermal heating effect that weakens and kills the fungi that cause the infection. A single treatment usually takes about 45 minutes to treat 10 nails. You may feel a heating sensation during the treatment, however, you can leave immediately after the procedure and resume your daily routine. You could also experience some slight discolouration of the nail after the treatment.
Improvement may be seen after a single clearsteps ™ session, however, best results are typically achieved through a series of 3-4 treatments. Successful treatment will result in the growth of a new, healthy nail, however, it could take up to 1 year to see an entirely clear nail, depending on the rate of growth.