Fungal Nail Laser

At Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center in Scarborough, ME, Dr. Michele Kurlanski uses the REMY® Class IV therapy laser as one part of a comprehensive program for fungal toenails. Laser treatment is performed in the office, requires no anesthesia or downtime, and is combined with professional nail thinning, prescription medication when appropriate, and daily home care to improve the nail environment and support healthy new nail growth.

What Does the Laser Do?

Laser energy is delivered through the nail without cutting or removing it. Treatment takes place in the office and requires no anesthesia. Most patients feel warmth during the session and can return to their normal activities right away.

Laser devices used for onychomycosis (the medical term for fungal toenails) are FDA-cleared for a temporary increase in clear nail. For this reason, we do not describe laser treatment as a guaranteed cure for toenail fungus. We use it alongside other treatments as part of a comprehensive strategy for managing fungal nails.

Fungal nail laser treatment at Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center in Scarborough, ME

What Happens During Treatment?

Our current fungal nail program includes five laser treatment sessions.

At each visit, the affected nails are evaluated and, when needed, professionally thinned or debrided before the laser is applied. We also review what you should be doing between appointments. Treating the nail while ignoring the surrounding skin, shoes, moisture, or other sources of reinfection can undermine your progress.

Successful fungal nail treatment is a partnership between what we do in the office and what you do at home.

When Will My Toenails Look Better?

The damaged nail does not suddenly become normal. A healthier-looking nail has to grow forward from the base.

Toenails grow slowly. Early improvement often shows up as a clearer area of new nail near the cuticle, but meaningful visual improvement usually takes several months. A big toenail can take roughly 12 to 18 months to grow out completely. Severely thickened or badly damaged nails generally take longer because there is more damaged nail that has to grow out.

We photograph your nails at each stage so progress can be measured over time rather than relying on memory alone.

Laser Is One Part of the Program

Fungal toenails can involve the nail plate, the tissue underneath the nail, and the surrounding skin. Shoes and socks can also contribute to reinfection. That is why we don’t rely on laser alone.

Depending on your situation, your treatment plan may also include professional nail thinning, prescription topical antifungal medication, oral antifungal medication when medically appropriate, treatment and prevention of athlete’s foot, and daily nail, skin, shoe, and sock care. Not every patient needs every component.

Learn more about how we diagnose and treat fungal toenails on our Fungal Nails page.

FAQ

No. Most patients feel a mild warming sensation during the session. There is no need for anesthesia or numbing, and there is no downtime afterward.

Our current program includes five laser sessions. At each visit the affected nails are evaluated and thinned when needed before the laser is applied. Dr. Kurlanski will outline your schedule at your first visit based on how many nails are involved and how severe the infection is.

It can. Onychomycosis has a significant recurrence and reinfection rate. Even after a nail improves, fungus can be reintroduced from the surrounding skin, footwear, moisture, or the environment. That is why prevention is built into our program. Depending on your risk factors, we may recommend ongoing skin and nail care, treatment of athlete’s foot, shoe hygiene, moisture control, and periodic maintenance treatment.

Sometimes. Not every thick, yellow, or brittle toenail is fungus. Trauma, repetitive shoe pressure, psoriasis, and other nail conditions can look very similar. When indicated, Dr. Kurlanski recommends a nail sample to confirm fungal involvement before you commit to a treatment program, so you are not spending months treating a condition you don’t have. Read more on our Fungal Nails page.

You may benefit from an evaluation if you have yellow, white, brown, thickened, or brittle toenails, debris underneath the nail, a nail separating from the nail bed, additional toenails becoming involved, recurrent athlete’s foot along with abnormal nails, or fungal nails that keep returning after previous treatment. Laser can also be a helpful option for patients who have medical conditions that make oral antifungal medication less appropriate. Your first visit is designed to determine what is causing the nail changes and whether laser makes sense as part of your plan.

Laser is used for toenail fungus (onychomycosis), including discolored, brittle, or thickened nails once fungal infection has been confirmed or is strongly suspected, and for fungal nail infections that have persisted or returned after previous treatment.