FUNGAL NAILS
ARE YOU EMBARRASSED BY YOUR TOENAILS ?
Do you have unsightly yellow, thickened toenails?
Are your toenails cracked and crumbling?
Do your toenails have a foul smelling odour?
Have you been using topical ointments, lacquers and solutions on your nails with no results?
Laser Treatment of Fungal Nails (Onychomycosis)
This is a course of treatments over the period of two months and involves the application of a laser to the infected nails as well as the adjoining nails. There is normally little or no pain whilst the laser is being applied but sometimes you may experience a sensation of warmth under the nail. If this causes significant discomfort then on subsequent treatments you will be supplied with a local anaesthetic cream to all apply to the toes an hour before attending for your appointment.
A vital component of the treatment is the application of anti-fungal cream to the feet for a week after treatment and the application of an anti-fungal spray to your shoes, this is to minimise the risk of re-infecting your nails after the procedure. It is also advised that you bring a fresh pair of shoes and socks with you to put on after the first laser session A summary of the course of treatment is shown below:-
Initial Consultation
A sample of nail is taken to confirm the presence of a fungal infection.
A full medical history is taken and a consent form is completed
An appointment is made to begin laser treatment
A fee is payable at this point which is deducted off the total cost of the course of treatment
First Laser Session (Week 0)
-The nail is thinned down to remove as much infected nail as possible.
-Laser applied to the nails
-Photographs taken of affected nails
Second Laser Session (Week 2)
-Laser applied to nails
Third Laser Session (Week 4)
-Laser applied to nails
Review Session (Week 8)
-Nails are checked for improvement
-Photographs taken of nails
Review Session (Week 16)
-Nails are checked for improvement
-Photographs taken of nails.
If there are still signs of a fungal infection it may be necessary to re-lase the affected nails, this will incur a further charge.
To achieve the best results it is important for you to apply the anti-fungal preparations as directed and follow the treatment plan as any deviation may seriously affect the success rate.
What is PACT Therapy?
PACT stands for Photodynamic Anti-microbial and Anti-Mycotic Therapy. This method has been used extensively in medicine since the 1990’s for the treatment of tumours, skin diseases and wound infections. Unlike human cells, fungal cells possess a cell wall. Using a special blue dye (Toluidine Blue) which is harmless to human cells but selectively stains the cell wall of the fungal cells; followed by an application of a specific wavelength of light to the area being treated using the PACT unit results in the fungal cell wall becoming sensitive to light, therefore destroying the fungus. We do
not require a GP referral to carry out the PACT treatment.
WELL WE HAVE THE SOLUTION FOR YOU!
The long wait for people with fungal nail infections is over. Fungal nails infections affect approximately over a million Australians. The use of topical medications is time consuming, with either daily or weekly applications that you must do for up to 12 months. After a month you tend to forget to apply the solution, so the nail never seems to improve.
Oral medications are more effective, but not everyone can take them due to existing medical problems, or current medications. Oral medications can also be toxic to your liver, and can have some nasty side effects.
Laser therapy is a recent treatment, that can be effective, but it can be painful and very expensive.
There is another alternative treatment, and that is PACT Therapy.
Is It Safe?
PACT therapy does not use acids, drugs, lasers, it is a very effective and safe treatment. It is not excluded for use in diabetic patients. However, it is possible to be allergic to the ingredients in the gel although that would be extremely RARE.
What Does The Treatment Involve?
Fungal nails infections start from the tip of the nail and spreads to the rest of the nail over time, it can also infect the adjacent toenails as it is contagious. PACT treatment is simple, it will require the following to be done:
We need to trim away as much as possible the infected nail. This will involve cutting the nail back as we can, and thinning out the nail plate. This is to allow the gel and light to penetrate the active fungal cells
Apply the special light sensitive gel to the nail and allow this to penetrate the nail for 10 minutes
Now the PACT light is placed over the nail, and a high power LED lamp is introduced for 9.5 minutes
During the treatment the patients will feel a slight warming sensation
It is imperative that the nail is debrided back as far as we can to give the treatment the best advantage. This is not a painful process, but when most of the nail is infected, we have to cut back ‘to the base’.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
For successful treatment of a single nail there are 5 x 30 minute consultations required as follows:
Initially there are 3 treatments in the first week
1 treatment review after 1 month
1 treatment review after 3 months
A final review/repeat treatment may be required at 6 months for severe fungal nail infections. In some cases 6 monthly treatments may be required for prevention.
How Long Will It Take To Work?
The sessions are short and effective, however, waiting for the new nail to grow takes a few months. Everyone’s nails grow a slightly different rate but commonly healthy new nail growth is evident at between 3 and 6 months.
So if this applies to your toenails just remember:
Quick and Effective
No side effects
Painless
You don’t have to do a thing!