A increasing number of medical professionals are using an pricey laser system they say irradicates a common fungus that leads to ugly, discolored nails. Published facts on laser treatment for nail fungus is limited, however preliminary results suggest it is a practical choice for those who don't want the uncomfortable side effects of oral medications.

Onychomycosis, or fungal infection of nails-most often on the toes-impacts around 12% of Americans, in accordance to the American Academy of Dermatology. A number of people are genetically prone to it. Other folks, including swimmers and other athletes, might be more likely to contract it because they go barefoot in public places or because their feet are repeatedly damp, scientists reveal. In its mild forms, nail fungus is simply a superficial predicament, nevertheless over time it can produce toenails to develop abnormally and become tender while walking.

Toenail laser procedures offers a different choice to oral medication, which carries a possibility of liver injury, and a nail lacquer, that has inferior efficiency.

The price of zapping nail fungus by means of a laser can vary $750 to $1,500 for a procedures program. It isn't normally covered with insurance. No matter whether you select oral medicines or lasers, it can easily take a year for nails to clear entirely.

To this point only one company's laser has received Food and Drug Administration clearance, which is a streamlined assessment process for medical devices, for toenail fungus: PinPointe USA Inc., of Chico, Calif., received approval in October to promote its laser for "the temporary increase of clear nail" in patients, according to the FDA clearance letter. Two corporations, Nomir Medical Technologies Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y., which originally applied in 2009, and CoolTouch Inc., of Roseville, Calif., have applied for FDA clearance for the nail-fungus treatment and are waiting for an FDA decision.

A number of other lasers, authorized by the FDA for other purposes, are being used "off label" by medical doctors to heal toenail fungus.

Rock-solid proof of the lasers' effectiveness as a toe fungus treatment, is scarce. Within medical practice, results have varied, according to medical doctors who have used the laser. New Jersey podiatrist Anas Khoury, who has no affiliation with any laser company, says he has been using Nomir's Noveon laser for toenails for about four months and claims it works in approximately 80% of his patients. "My patients and I are very happy with it," he adds.

Philadelphia podiatrist Warren Joseph, who is a consultant for Nomir and a former consultant for PinPointe, states: "I think it is a really interesting, viable alternative but I want to see published data." His suggestion to patients: "Ask for the evidence-and not just before-and-after pictures."

Treatments typically take 30 to 45 minutes for up to 10 toes. Depending on the severity of the problem and the laser used, patients may need one to four sessions.

How the lasers work varies and how they affect toenail fungus is not entirely understood in cases. Nomir says its lab investigation indicates its laser kills fungus. CoolTouch says it believes its laser stunts fungal growth, leading the way for the body's own immune system to clear the nail.

To this point only Nomir has published verification of efficacy, but its study is small and short term. A company-funded study of 34 patients and 26 treated toes published last year in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association found that following four laser procedures, 85% of the nails had new growth with no fungus. Of the total, 65% had a minimum of three millimeters of clear new nail and 26% had no less than four millimeters. The analysis got its concluding measures six months after therapy, but hasn't thus far published the figures.

If you are willing to run the risk of side effects, the best tested-and likely most reliable-treatment for toenail fungus remains oral medications such as Novartis AG's Lamisil, states Bryan C. Markinson, chief of podiatric medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr. Markinson has been a paid adviser to Novartis and owns stock in Nomir and serves on its medical-advisory board.

To prevent fungus reappearance, you have got to stay on a thorough cleanliness program, including anti-fungal spray for feet and shoes, not going barefoot, keeping feet clean and dry and changing socks on a daily basis, physicians say.

"Patients and a few doctors have this expectation that since it's a laser treatment, when you zap it and its gone for good says Dr. Markinson. "That totally ignores the fact that this is an infectious disease and that recurrance is a certainty" unless good prevention measures are taken.