Nail Fungus (Onychomycosis) Treatment

Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is an infection in which the nail plate turns yellow, thickens, crumbles, and separates. It does not go away on its own and gradually spreads to neighboring nails and the skin of the feet. At Medest, fungal nails are treated by a podologist, who combines mechanical debridement of the affected areas with red-light photodynamic therapy.

Signs that bring people in

• the nail has changed color: turned yellow, white, or dark;
• the nail plate is thickening, crumbling, or splitting into layers;
• the nail is lifting from the nail bed, with debris building up underneath;
• an unpleasant odor, itching, and flaking skin between the toes;
• the fungus came back after treatment with ointments and medicated nail polishes.

Nail trauma, psoriasis, or marks left by gel polish can look similar, so treatment starts with a diagnosis. If in doubt, the specialist may refer you for a lab test.

How treatment works

Sometimes the podologist recommends softening the nails with urea-based products for a few days before the procedure, which makes the affected areas easier to remove. At the appointment, the specialist removes the infected nail tissue with a device and then applies light treatment.

We use PACT photodynamic therapy, a method developed in Germany. A special solution is applied to the nail, followed by red laser light: the light damages the cell membranes of the fungus and stops it from multiplying. The method works locally and does not burden the body the way tablets do.

Procedure options

• Fungal nail debridement — removal of affected tissue with a device, after which the nails look neater and medicated products penetrate the nail plate better.
• Red laser treatment of onychomycosis (PACT) — priced per nail and usually combined with debridement.

How many procedures and when to expect results

Treating nail fungus takes more than one visit. The podologist determines the number of procedures and the interval between them at the consultation, depending on how many nails are affected and how deeply. In advanced onychomycosis, procedures are repeated monthly, sometimes for a year. When the whole nail is affected, a healthy nail takes an average of 6–12 months to grow out, so the final result is assessed once the old nail has been completely replaced.

Who performs the procedure

Mirzoyan Hasmik — podologist at Medest. She treats fungal, ingrown, and damaged nails, corns, and cracks on the feet.

How to avoid reinfection

• disinfect or replace the shoes you wore while infected;
• wear your own slippers at the pool, sauna, and gym;
• dry your feet and the spaces between your toes thoroughly;
• do not use other people’s towels or pedicure tools.

Read more in the podologist’s articles: nail and foot fungus: symptoms and treatment, how to avoid infection at the pool, and toenail turned yellow: fungus, trauma, or polish.