Treatment Options

What treatments are available for nail infection?

Nail fungus is an embarrassing chronic condition that impacts your quality of life and can lead to serious health problems for those with diabetes or immune disorders. Nail infection can start as a result of a family history of susceptibility, increasing age, poor health, nail trauma, warm or moist climates, exposure to infected nails in sports/ fitness and communal bathing areas, and tight shoes.

The treatment of nail infection is difficult because the infection is under and inside the nail, which makes it hard for other treatments to reach and destroy the infection. Treatments such as medicated nail polish or oral medications may be associated with side effects or serious drug interactions. Home remedies such as using bleach, vinegar, mouthwash, or household cleaners to resolve the problem are often tried but, ultimately, fail to resolve it.

Only the PinPointe FootLaser is designed specifically to treat the major symptoms of discolored and unsightly nails caused by onychomycosis.

Talk to your provider about treatment options currently available for nail infection to determine which is the right treatment for you.

What are the benefits, disadvantages, and risks of treatment?

The benefits, disadvantages, and risks associated with oral and topical drugs and with PinPointe FootLaser treatment include:

Treatment	Benefits	Disadvantage/Risks
Oral Drugs	Effective in treating nail infections New nail grows out with no signs of infection	Drug must be taken for 6-12 weeks Not effective in all patients Not recommended in some patients who have poor health Final result seen after nail grows out (4-12 months) Drug side effects: headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, skin rash, (allergic reaction to drug) Serious drug side effects: risk of liver damage and heart failure (weekly blood testing may be required to monitor liver/ heart function)
Topical Drugs	Has some effectiveness in treating nail infections of time—often daily for one year New nail grows out with no signs of infection No significant adverse effects	Drug must be applied to nails daily for a long period Not effective in all patients because the drug cannot pass into in some patients or through the nail to reach the infection under the nail
PinPointe™ FootLaser™	Effective in treating nail infections – Most patients receive some improvement in 3, 6, 9 and/or 12 months after one treatment session New nail grows out with no signs of infection No significant adverse effects	Not effective in all patients Final result seen after nail grows out (4-12 months) Usual side effect: feeling of warmth (only during treatment) Rare side effects: – Discoloration/burn marks on surface of the nail – Slight or mild pain (only during treatment) – Redness of the treated skin around the nail (lasting 24-72 hours) – Slight swelling of the treated skin around the nail (lasting 24-72 hours) Rare laser effect: – Sometimes the laser creates ‘sparks’ on the surface of the nail – this does not cause any problems Extremely rare laser effects (did not occur during clinical studies): – Blistering of the treated skin around the nail – Scarring of the treated skin around the nail

Treatment Benefits of Oral Drugs

Effective in treating nail infections
New nail grows out with no signs of infection

Treatment Disadvantage/Risks of Oral Drugs

Drug must be taken for 6-12 weeks
Not effective in all patients
Not recommended in some patients who have poor health
Final result seen after nail grows out (4-12 months)
Drug side effects: headache, diarrhea, upset stomach, skin rash, (allergic reaction to drug)
Serious drug side effects: risk of liver damage and heart failure (weekly blood testing may be required to monitor liver/ heart function)

Treatment Benefits of Topical Drugs

Has some effectiveness in treating nail infections of time—often daily for one year
New nail grows out with no signs of infection
No significant adverse effects

Treatment Disadvantage/Risks of Topical Drugs

Drug must be applied to nails daily for a long period
Not effective in all patients because the drug cannot pass into in some patients or through the nail to reach the infection under the nail

Treatment Benefits of the PinPointe FootLaser

Effective in treating nail infections – Most patients receive some improvement in 3, 6, 9 and/or 12 months after one treatment session
New nail grows out with no signs of infection
No significant adverse effects

Treatment Disadvantage/Risks of the PinPointe FootLaser

Not effective in all patients
Final result seen after nail grows out (4-12 months)
Usual side effect: feeling of warmth (only during treatment)
Rare side effects:
– Discoloration/burn marks on surface of the nail
– Slight or mild pain (only during treatment)
– Redness of the treated skin around the nail (lasting 24-72 hours)
– Slight swelling of the treated skin around the nail (lasting 24-72 hours)
Rare laser effect:
– Sometimes the laser creates ‘sparks’ on the surface of the nail – this does not cause any problems
Extremely rare laser effects (did not occur during clinical studies):
– Blistering of the treated skin around the nail
– Scarring of the treated skin around the nail

Want to find out more?

Want to Find Out More?

If you’re not already enjoying the benefits of this elite group, contact NuvoLase, Inc. at (530) 809-1970 to learn more about the advantages of having a PinPointe FootLaser in your practice. Or send us an inquiry.