- Two treatments minimum are usually essential. Return to laser clinic in 6 weeks for a second treatment
- More severely infected nails can require up to 5 treatments.
- Results are not noticeable for 3 months post, and full toe nails take 9-12 months to fully grow out
- Bring brand new socks, or socks laundered at 60⁰C or above with you to wear home after your laser treatment
- Use Anti-fungal powder/spray in all shoes twice a week for 4 weeks post.
- In the case that a fungal skin infection is present on the feet ( i.e. Athletes foot) , sterilize shower with thick bleach for 10 minutes, to prevent cross contamination to others in the household. You
could wear flip flops for future showers to prevent cross contamination of skin fungus/athletes foot to others. - Vacuum carpets on day of treatment, because of fungus develops arthrospores, it can live for up to one year.
- Throw out all old socks as Fungi will be present in them or launder them at 60°C wash.
- Launder towels and bed sheets in a 60°C wash. Change socks daily.
- Those prone to sweaty feet should ideally wear wicking socks (dry fit socks). Wicking socks are best for sufferers of toenail fungus and for those who want to keep their feet dry. Wicking socks are made with synthetic fabrics which wick, or pull perspiration away from your feet to the outer layer of the fabric. They help prevent blisters and chafing and fungus. Popular brands: CoolMax, Thorlo, Wigwam.
- Wear open toe shoes when possible to allow air to the toe nails.
- Keep nails short. Clip fungal nails last, to prevent fungus spreading.
- Sterilize nail clipper/Nail scissors with fungicidal solution after every use.
- An ideal fungicidal solution is; Thick bleach; immerse clipper/nail scissors for 15 minutes.
- Antibacterial or Antiseptic products don’t kill Fungi.
- Avoid wearing nail polish to allow the nail to breath. If you do want to wear nail polish, however, you must wait 24 hours after your laser treatment before applying it. (Throw out all old nail polishes.
- Use new nail polish, pour into a disposable dish and use disposable applicator brush, paint fungal nails last).
- Dry feet well and do not share towels with other family members, as fungus is contagious.
- Launder your towels at 60°C.
- Please remove all nail polish before your next laser treatment.
- Results are not guaranteed. Recurrence is possible.
- It’s impossible to determine if a client will be successful or not.
- Reinfection may occur if above aftercare is not strictly adhered to.
- It is essential to sterilise the interior of all your shoes to prevent reinfection of fungus; buy 10% Formaldehyde from your pharmacy. It is on prescription & the chemist may need to order it in for you, from their suppliers – United Drug.
Sterlising Footwear
Get 200 ml of Formal Solution ULM (Formaldehyde Solution 10%) for disinfecting footwear. (€18 approx.)
It is on prescription, as it’s an off licence product. You should not to allow contact with the skin and only to use in a well-ventilated area.
Put on rubber gloves. Place about 1 ml of Formaldehyde solution on some cotton wool (cotton wool size
should be the size of a tennis ball approx.) and insert it into in your shoes. The cotton wool should be big enough, that it absorbs the solution and that the shoes do not get wet with the formaldehyde, otherwise the Formalin may damage the shoes. Place the shoes in a sealed bag and put the bag outdoors for 24 hours. The fumes will kill fungus in your shoes. Repeat this shoe sterilization process one month later.
Supplements
The following supplements may be taken to prevent reinfection if desired: Capryllic acid, Oregano capsule or dropper, P’au darco supplement, Grapeseed extract (dropper bottle). Also take a good Probiotic (i.e. Udos’s).
Food that can Contribute to Fungal Infections
Cut down on sugar. Sugar feeds fungus. Reduce white bread, cheese, wine