After laser treatment
There’s no need for any special medications or creams unless you have tinea of the skin on your fingers or toes. Focus on keeping the area clean and dry so it’s difficult for fungi to grow there.
- Apply clean socks after your treatment.
- Avoid sun exposure on the treated area.
- Keep your nails and the skin between your fingers/toes as clean and dry as possible.\
- Dry your toes thoroughly after showering, and wash your towel after every use. Don’t re-use your towel, as this may cause re-infection.
- If there is tinea of the skin between your toes, use an antifungal cream such as terbinafine (Lamisil). Apply twice daily for 14 days.
- If your nails are very thick, file them to make them thinner before treatments. This helps the laser energy penetrate the nail bed more efficiently.
What to expect
It will take some time for your nails to improve. You will notice as the nail grows the new nail will appear smoother and clearer. It may take many months for healthy new nails to displace the old abnormal nails.
Nail hygiene
Make it as difficult as possible for fungi to survive both on your nails and in your home. Avoid situations where you may be exposed to nail fungi.
- Keep your nails cut short and file down any thick areas.
- Don’t use the same nail trimmer or file on healthy nails that you’ve used on infected nails.
- Don’t scratch, pick or rub the treated toes/fingers.
- Wash all socks, stockings, washable footwear, sheets and towels in an anti-fungal detergent regularly. These detergents are available from pharmacies.
- Air your shoes in a warm sunny place when you’re not wearing them.
- Wash or replace insoles regularly if possible.
- Wear open-toed sandals or thongs while you are indoors. Don’t go barefoot, since this could lead to spread of the fungus and transmission to others in the household.
- Wear clean, dry socks every day.
- Change your socks if your feet are sweaty or wet.
- At the gym, don’t walk bare footed. Wash your socks and air your shoes as soon as possible after exercise.
- If your fingernails are treated, wear cotton gloves if handling objects used by other people (e.g. steering wheels)
- Discard all current nail polishes to avoid reinfection from contaminated brushes.
- Reduce the risk of re-infection by avoiding public pools, spas and saunas.
Your next appointment
For best results, return to the clinic weekly for four treatments. Bring an extra pair of clean socks to your appointments.
Return again after 3 months so we can assess how well your treatment has worked.