Successful Treatment of Toenail Fungus with Laser in Japan
Some doctors in Japan has succeeded in proving that laser treatment can cure toenail fungus. Two patients suffering from fungal infections on her toenails had been successfully treated with laser therapy. Although the oral antifungal agents have been shown to cure this nail disease effectively, the drug has many weaknesses, such as cause many side effects on the liver and kidneys. In addition, nail fungus pills also can not be used by certain populations such as children, mothers who are pregnant, elderly, or people who suffer from systemic disease. The findings of researchers in Japan proved that the laser can be a treatment option if patient’s condition did not allow an oral antifungal.
One of patients which are successfully treated with laser is a 80-year-old woman. She was suffering from toenail fungus for 3 years. Because it’s old age, doctors could not give an oral antifungal medication. So, Doctors gave Lamisil topical to kill fungus that infects her toenails. However, these topical treatments can not rid toenail fungus. Microscopic examination still showed fungal hyphae on the surface of the nail. The second patient was a woman aged 31 years. She is suffering from toenail fungus since she was a teenager. For more than 10 years, the fungus in her toenails were not successfully treated. This fungal infection causes yellowish toenail discoloration. Initially, she was consumed sporanox to cure these fungal infections. However, this oral treatment was discontinued because the woman complained of pain in the abdomen.
What is the most cost-effective toenail fungus diagnosis?
Diagnosis of toenail fungus is an important part in the handling of the infectious disease on nail. Toenail fungus (Onychomycosis) is a disease that takes a comprehensive treatment. To cure this infection, we need a long time and considerable cost. Therefore, the diagnosis of toenail fungus should be enforced properly. However, we must also consider cost in choosing a technique to diagnose toenail fungus.
During this time, there are seven techniques which are often used to diagnose toenail fungus: potassium hydroxide preparation interpreted by a dermatologist (KOH-CLINIC), potassium hydroxide preparation interpreted by a laboratory technician (KOH-LAB), KOH with dimethyl sulfoxide (KOH-DMSO) interpreted by a dermatologist, KOH with chlorazol black E (KOH-CBE) interpreted by a dermatologist, culture using dermatophyte test medium, culture with Mycobiotic and Inhibitory Mold Agar, and PATHPAS method. Some researchers from the University of Minnesota compare these methods to find the most cost effective technique in diagnosing toenail fungus.
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Black Toenail, Treatment based on cause
Black toenail is a brown or black pigmentation of the nail plate caused by existence of excessive melanin. 
In the medical field, this disorder is often referred to melanonychia. Toenail fungus is one of the causes of this discoloration. Besides due to fungal infection, color change can also be caused by a variety of things. Viewed from the histology, the presence of melanin on nail could be caused by both excessive activation of melanocytes or excessive growth of melanocytes. Because of the multiple mechanisms of this disorder, treatment should be done based on the cause. However, the main objective in the management of black toenail is the correct diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be carried out. More »
Snakeroot, Mexican Plants as toenail fungus natural cure, a scientific evidence
Since a few decades ago, snakeroot has been used to treat superficial toenail fungus. These plants are believed to be a natural remedy for several skin diseases. Extracts from snakeroot leaves is applied topically on fungus-infected areas. We can use either fresh leaves or leaves that have been dried. Then, the leaves are extracted with alcohols so we can use active substances contained in them as a topical treatment for toenail fungus.
Research conducted at the Biomedical Laboratory of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social shown that extracts of this plant can inhibit the growth of fungi. The researchers examine the antifungal activity of some plant extracts against some dermatophyte fungi, nondermatophyte fungi, and yeast, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Of the several types of plants, leaf extracts of plants from the Asteraceae species have the most potent substances to inhibit the growth of Trychophyton, most causes of toenail fungus. Based on these findings, some researchers from the same institution entered into a clinical trial to prove the effectiveness of leaf extract Snakeroot (Ageratina pichinchensis) to treat nail fungus. In a study involving 96 subjects, the effectiveness of Ageratina pichinchensis extract in treating Trichophyton rubrum infections compared with ciclopirox (Penlac). Forty-nine nail fungus patients were treated with nail lacquer containing encecalin, active compound from Snakeroot leaf extract. This natural treatment lasts for six months. Meanwhile, forty-seven other people were given 8% ciclopirox topically. The research results showed Snakeroot leaf extract has more than 70% therapeutic effectiveness. Encecalin therapeutic effectiveness is not much different with ciclopirox ( Penlac ). The results of this study provide hope that natural nail fungus treatment is not inferior to topical treatment with chemicals. More »
