Ever grab those cute new sandals and when you’re about to head out the door, you remember that untreated toenail fungus and turn back for some closed-toe shoes? Or need to have that dreaded conversation with the hubby that he better grab his sneakers instead of the Teva’s if he doesn’t want to scare everyone at the family BBQ? There’s no pretty way to put it – toenail fungus is an off-putting, embarrassing issue many of us face, even if we don’t like to admit it. While it might seem like more frequent pedicures and better hygiene will solve the issue of yellowing, crumbly toenails – there’s often a deeper issue at the root of the problem, and at Pure Skin, we have a simple, pain-free solution to get your feet looking and feeling ready for those new sandals come warmer weather!
What is Toenail Fungus?
Nail fungus is a common condition that causes your toenails to discolor (often yellowish), thicken, turn a distorted shape, become brittle and even crumble at the edges. Toenail fungus also often carries an odor and some amount of discomfort and while it may affect all toes, it sometimes only affects a few at once. The underlying condition that causes yellow, distorted toenails is called Onychomycosis. Onychomycosis can arise from past cases of athlete’s foot, walking barefoot in damp areas, having a minor skin or nail wound, or you may also have an increased risk of developing a fungal nail infection if you have poor circulation, a weakened immune system, genetic factors, diabetes, psoriasis and more.
What is Treatment Like for Toenail Fungus?
While toenail fungus might be a little scary – treatment for it couldn’t be easier! At Pure Skin in Bismarck, ND, Dr. John Botsford, and the medical aesthetic team use a state-of-the-art Sciton® ClearSense™ 1064 laser to quickly and effectively treat unsightly toenail fungus in easy outpatient treatment. The clear sense device delivers targeted laser energy directly to the nails and nail beds of affected toenails to heat and eliminates fungus while facilitating the growth of clear nails without invasive surgery or antifungal medications (and the toxic side effects that come with them)! These laser treatments take about 10-20 minutes, and while many adults get relief from a single treatment, more severe cases may require up to four treatments. While you won’t see a change in the appearance of your toenails immediately, a few months after treatment, new clear nails will grow out, clear and free of fungus! Worried about your comfort levels during treatment? Because the laser energy during treatment is focused directly at the infected areas of your toenails, neighboring skin is not affected and because of that, most don’t experience any pain or discomfort. This treatment carries no downtime with it, so it’s as easy as coming in on your lunch break to get yourself on your way to clear, healthy toenails you can show off next spring!
When it comes to toenail fungus, good things take time! That’s why the colder months are the perfect time to treat your toenail fungus at Pure Skin so come warmer weather, your fresh new clear toenails have had a few months to grow out! Just like they say – summer bodies (and toes!) are made in the winter! Call us today for your one-on-one consultation at Pure Skin and let’s get your toes ready for their new debut: 701-751-4140
