Diode Laser Treat Onychomycosis

What is onychomycosis?

Onychomycosis is a non-life threatening infection of the nails caused predominantly by the
dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum,
and to a lesser extent by yeasts (e.g., Candida species) and non-dermatophytic molds.

Although visual changes are often observed in the nail, a proper diagnosis using a test designed to detect the
presence of nail fungus is often performed to rule out other causes for the nail’s changed appearance.

The worldwide prevalence of onychomycosis is up to 5%, and the risk of infection increases
with age. Treatment options include topical antifungal medications, nail removal, oral antifungal
medications, and lasers.

 The choice of therapy depends on the disease severity, previous treatments,
other medications the patient is taking, physician or patient preference, and cost.

With rising patient awareness, the global market for treatment of onychomycosis is increasing and in 2010 was estimated to be $3.6 billion (Podiatry Today).