Toenail fungus infection, also called onychomycosis, is a common dermatological condition that affects up to 10% of the population. It is an infection of the nail apparatus by fungi. It can cause nails to become thick, yellow, or discolored, and become brittle, crumbly, and separate from the nail bed.
Both topical and oral antifungal agents are available for the treatment of toenail fungus infections. However, topical agents need to be applied daily for up to 12 months, and due to poor penetration into the nail bed, are usually less effective. Oral agents can be effective in eliminating nail infections and restoring clear nails. However, concerns of adverse effects and liver toxicity have limited their use. Laser therapy is a non-invasive approach for treatment of toenail fungus infection with high efficacy rate.
GenesisPlus is a Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser system developed by Cutera. It is FDA and Health Canada approved to be both a safe and effective solution for the treatment of nail infection.
The GenesisPlus procedure involves passing the laser beam over the infected nails and surrounding skin to kill fungal organism. This can result in normal nail grow. Most patients have experienced improvement.