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Long-Pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Onychomycosis.
- Source :
-
Photomedicine and laser surgery [Photomed Laser Surg] 2017 Apr; Vol. 35 (4), pp. 213-216. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Dec 30. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser in penetrating tissue and targeting the fungal overgrowth in the nail plate.<br />Background: Onychomycosis is the most frequent nail disorder. Current treatments include oral and topical antifungal agents, photodynamic therapy, and surgical approaches such as mechanical, chemical, or surgical nail avulsion. Moreover, the use of lasers to treat nail diseases has been approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Wide literature has been produced to assess the effectiveness of these devices, but, because the opposing results emerging from current studies, more data are still needed on the long-lasting efficacy and safety of this procedure.<br />Methods: Twenty consecutive, unselected patients were enrolled in the study and treated, at intervals of 1 week, for a total of four sessions, using a long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser. In each session, three passages across each nail plate were performed with 1-min pause between each passage. A special lens for dermatoscopy, connected to a digital camera, was used for dermoscopic images.<br />Results: In fourteen patients (70%; 12F; 3M), excellent results were obtained with an important reduction of chromonychia, onycholysis, opacity, longitudinal striae, and jagged proximal edge. Better results were observed in severe cases in the 2-month follow-up visit.<br />Conclusions: Data for treating nail onychomycosis with laser and light therapy seem to be positive. The promising results of our study identify long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser as a possible alternative option for the treatment of onychomycosis. However, increasing subject data, improving study methodology, and output parameters may become an important next step of study in the treatment of nail onychomycosis.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Cohort Studies
Dermoscopy methods
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Foot Dermatoses diagnosis
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Onychomycosis diagnosis
Patient Satisfaction statistics & numerical data
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
Foot Dermatoses radiotherapy
Lasers, Solid-State therapeutic use
Low-Level Light Therapy methods
Onychomycosis radiotherapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1557-8550
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Photomedicine and laser surgery
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28061322
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/pho.2016.4153