Laser therapy is a type of treatment that can be used to target a variety of foot and ankle problems. It is often used to treat toenail fungus and plantar warts.

Toenail fungus can be unpleasant and unsightly. Due to a fungal infection, the toenails can become thick, brittle, crumbly, and discolored. In severe cases, the nails might begin to separate from the nail bed, emit a foul odor, and cause pain as they rub against your shoes while you walk. Toenail fungus can be difficult to treat. Topical antifungal medications, which are applied directly to the nail, may not penetrate the nail’s surface and kill all the fungi. Oral antifungal medications, while more effective, can also cause serious, unwanted side effects. Both types of treatment may take months to be effective. Laser therapy is fast becoming the prefered way to treat toenail fungus. This type of treatment is not only effective, but also safer and faster than more traditional methods. During a laser treatment, a concentrated beam of light from the laser is used to penetrate the surfaces of the infected nails and kill the fungus underneath them. This is usually done in less than 30 minutes.

Laser therapy can also be used to treat plantar warts, fleshy growths that form on the soles of the feet due to a viral skin infection. These warts can be painful, particularly if they grow in areas like the balls and heels of the feet, where pressure pushes them to grow inwards. Treatment for plantar warts often includes applying chemicals to freeze or burn the wart off, or surgical removal of the wart. However, these methods can be painful and may leave behind a scar. Laser therapy is a treatment option that is safe, effective and less painful. It is also more precise, cutting off the blood supply to the wart and killing the virus that caused it.

To learn more about laser therapy and to see if it is the right treatment for you, please consult with a podiatrist.