Novel Laser Therapy in Treatment of Onychomycosis

A clinical study was performed in which 72 patients with 194 nails affected by onychomycosis were treated with long pulse Nd:YAG laser light (Dualis SP, Fotona, Slovenia) at a single clinical site (Dr. Kozarev’s Dermatology and Laser Clinic) over a period of 18 months. Mycotic cultures were taken from all affected nails and various fungal infections were positively diagnosed in all 72 patients. Laser treatment consisted of four sessions with one week interval, during which all infected nails were irradiated three times with laser light so that the nail plate was fully covered each time. Fluences of 35-40 J/cm2 were applied at pulse duration of 35 msec to develop a nailplate temperature of 45°C±5. Follow up was performed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, with mycological check ups at 3 and 6 months. At the 3 month follow up point, 95,8% of patients were cleared of all fungal infections. The full procedure was performed again on the three patients in which infection persisted after 3 month follow up (4,2%). On 6 and 12 month follow up all patients (100%) were clear of all fungal infection. There were no noticeable side effects of treatment and all patients were satisfied with treatment. This clinical study demonstrates that fungal nail infections can be effectively and safely treated with VSP Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser.