Laser Foot Treatments

Laser foot treatment attacks problems like toenail fungus.

Lasers, the instruments that generate a concentrated beam of light, are used in medical treatment. Eye surgery represents the most common usage. Now lasers are being applied to problems relating to the foot. Laser foot treatment is painless with some heat sensation experience. Lasers are being used for a variety of foot ailments, including toenail fungus.

Procedure

Toenail fungus represents a condition that has been treated with either creams or medicines. Medicines have side effects, primarily liver damage, and the creams have not been completely successful. Now laser treatments are being used to attack the fungus. The laser beam, known as the PinPointe Foot Laser System, penetrates through the nail without any damage on its way to attacking the fungus at its source. Normally one treatment completes the process. Typical treatment time is one-half hour.

Results

According to a clinical study reported by Belvedere Podiatry, 88 percent of patients grew back a normal-looking nail. Once the laser treatment for toenail fungus is complete, do not expect a healthy new nail immediately. It takes up to 12 months for a new, healthy nail to grow. During that time, care must be taken for the nail and the rest of the foot so a new fungus does not appear.

Plantar Warts

One painful foot problem involves plantar warts on the bottom of the foot. This condition causes problems while walking and running and will not go away without treatment. According to The Foot Specialist, a new laser treatment, the Flashlamp Pulsed Dye Laser, offers a method for eradicating plantar warts. The laser attacks the wart without damaging the surrounding foot tissue. Programmed to strike red targets, it hits and kills the wart's red blood cells, effectively killing the wart. In a matter of days, the wart comes off without any collateral damage to the foot.

Plantar Fasciitis

This condition is common among athletes, especially runners. According to a 2007 article in "Runner's World," laser treatment provides relief. The author, a runner who had to stop totally due to pain, received sufficient relief to start back running. Basically the doctor applies the laser to the injured area of the foot with the intent of stimulating cellular reaction to accelerate the healing process while reducing pain.

References

• ABCnews: Promising New Treatment For Fungus-Free Feet
• Surgery-Guide.com: Laser Foot Surgery
• "Runner's World"; Should You Get Laser Therapy?; Melanie Radzicki McManus; June 25, 2007
• Belvedere Podiatry: PinPointe Laser
• The Foot Specialist: Treating Warts