Provided by Nail’n'Toe Miami
Laser treatment of nail fungal infections in South Florida

Nail fungus can go undetected for months before signs and symptoms become visible. Look out for these five.

1. Yellowish nails
We all know what healthy toenails look like. If any of your toenails start turning yellow, brown or black, this usually spells trouble and you need to have it diagnosed.

2. A nail is thick, flaky, pitted, crooked and falling apart
If the nail breaks easy and often, or worse, begins lifting at the tip – rest assured, you got it!  Fungi are in the nail bed causing the nail to crumble.

3. There are smelly residue under nail
You’ve waited too long! Byproducts of the thriving fungus have a horrid odor.

4. The nail is slowly but surely turning black
That’s black fungus! Looks bad, but might be easier to treat with laser than a white onychomycosis.

5. Thickened, distorted and lifting nails
It might be too late for the rescue. If the matrix (the root of the nail) is destroyed, even Nail’n'Toe might be helpless. We can try but no guarantees of success.

Provided by Nail’n'Toe Tampa, FL
(Laser treatment of fungus in Tampa Bay Florida)

Here is something that may help as part of the anti-fungal therapy – colloidal silver. Known for many useful properties silver has been used as a home remedy for centuries. It’s not a cheap solution but it may add to the standard Nail’n'Toe treatment protocol, i.e. in between the treatment sessions in doctor’s offices. We have not found any decent studies on it but stumbled upon some anecdotal evidence.

By Mark Leitner, DPM
Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists / Nail’n'Toe provider in Brandon, FL

When it comes to toenail fungus treatment options there is nothing more amusing than listening to a new patient telling me about his/her experience in using yet another oil to treat onychomycosis. Tea tree oil is the ultimate leader. But how about olive oil, oregano oil, peppermint oil, almond oil, lemongrass essential oil? Here is a new one: jojobo oil for home therapy of nail fungus!

According to the nail fungus gurus publishing tons of sketchy articles on the Internet, the cure is simple and miraculous: put some oil of your choice into a foot bath with warm water and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes – just 5-6 times a day at your convenience and for about 6-9 months. Rub the nail with some hydrogen peroxide or alcohol each time. Occasionally sprinkle your nails with some apple cider vinegar and you are sure to be healed. Forever.

Frankly, I can’t imagine anyone taking a 20 minute break from work for a toenail fungus spa treatment 3 times a day during the work hours. But according to some of the rave reviews it works. Does it? Read the rest of this entry »

Many people ask us about the cost of Nail’n'Toe. There is no simple answer.

We have developed the treatment protocol and trained many doctors how to maximize the clinical results for their patients. We have provided general guidelines on pricing and marketing support for our network providers. However, each medical office has their priorities, costs and budgets, and is free to set their individual fees and package Nail’n'Toe components. The charge for the laser treatment of toenail fungus is in the $850-1,300 range for the full course (minimum 2 sessions, all toes), depending on the location, amount of medication prescribed and patient’s decision on optional items such as the Care Kit.

The cost of fungal laser treatment in Brandon, FL (this podiatry office also sees onychomycosis patients from Tampa, New Tampa, Bradenton, Plant City and Lakeland) has recently been clearly defined. Every effort to reduce the costs have been made to make the fungus laser equipment and medication affordable.

Two comprehensive treatment sessions and two follow up visits with nail debridement) are now $850 all inclusive. Care kits and additional topical medication are available for purchase and are strongly recommended to most patients. Financing programs, including 0% deferred for 6, 12 and 18 months are available, so you can get the Nail’n'Toe therapy for as low as $50/month.

Schedule your FREE evaluation now.

Got Nail Fungus? We Have a Cure! A cure! That’s what people with nail fungus would like to hear from their doctor. They would also like to have their insurance pay for the treatment. The reality, however, is far from being that simple.

At least 3 million Florida residents suffer from a fungal infection in their toenails or fingernails. Many have both. Some have battled fungus for decades.

Dr. Mark Leitner and Dr. Brandi Johnson are the first podiatrists in Tampa Bay area to offer Nail’n'Toe laser treatment of toenail fungus.

Most people think fungal nails are simply a cosmetic nuisance. That might be true for a few months, and in a mild case. If left untreated, or undertreated, fungal spores can survive indefinitely in the nail bed (the skin under the nail plate) and matrix (where the nail grows out of). The nail and thick skin work as a shield for nasty microorganisms like Digger the Dermatophyte, the star of Lamisil commercials.

Read the rest of this entry »

The SteriShoe^® ultraviolet shoe sanitizer is the world’s first product to safely and effectively sanitize the inside of your shoes. No chemicals that may damage your shoes! By using germicidal ultraviolet light (“UVC”), the shoe sanitizer kills microorganisms that cause athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and shoe odor.

Sold in pairs so you can treat a pair of shoes with each application. The treatment takes about 45 minutes. The germicidal lamp automatically turns off and the shoe sanitizer supports the shape of your shoes like a shoe tree.

Regular use of this device is critical to the overall success of your Nail’n'Toe course of anti-fungal treatment. It allows you to get rid of the fungus in your shoes! More about Household Decontamination and Preventive Regimen.

Patients who are undecided about when to start Nail’n'Toe are recommended to purchase and use the UV sanitizer. Save on buying it as part of a Nail’n'Toe Care Kit.

Sweat from feet (each foot sweats up to 8 oz. per day) causes shoes to become breeding grounds for the fungus and bacteria that cause toenail fungus, athlete’s foot, and odor. Treatment of toenail fungus cannot be effective if you do not sanitize your shoes. In fact, you can easily get re-infected by the residual fungi in your own shoes!

Purchase a SteriShoe® shoe sanitizer now at our Products Center.

Read the rest of this entry »

A new patented new molecule, silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC), is the first new antimicrobial in decades. Developed by Pure Bioscience, SDC is an electrolytically generated source of stabilized ionic silver that can serve as the basis for a new range of products that can potentially be used to increase the efficacy of topical anti-fungal medications.

Traditional silver-based disinfectants have very short shelf lives – from hours to days. SDC is a stabilized silver ion complex with a shelf life of several years. The unique bond of the silver ion in SDC allows the silver ion to remain in solution while at the same time making it more bio-available for antimicrobial action.

SDC kills microorganisms by two modes of action: 1) the silver ion deactivates structural and metabolic membrane proteins leading to microbial death; 2) the microbes view SDC as a food source, allowing the silver ion to enter the microbe. Once inside the organism, the silver ion denatures the DNA, which halts the microbe’s ability to replicate and leads to its death. This dual action makes SDC highly and quickly effective against a broad spectrum of microbes, including fungi.

While SDC is highly toxic to bacteria, fungus and virus it is non-toxic to humans and animals. Based on the EPA toxicity categorization of antimicrobial products that ranges from Category I (high toxicity) down to Category IV, at use dilutions, SDC is rated in the lowest toxicity category IV, which makes the molecule very attractive for the development of complex anti-fungal products.

Dermatophytes are parasitic fungi that cause skin, hair and nail  infections. Vividly portrayed by Digger the Dermatophyte in Lamisil commercials, these fungal spores look more like the ones in the picture to the left.

Dermatophytes are classified into three groups of fungus: Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. Each consists of about 40 known species of fungi.

These microorganisms can invade the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) and cause infection and damage to the living tissue. The most visible damage is inflicted when dermatophytes settle down in the nail bed, where they are well protected by the nail plate, or matrix, the base from which nails grow out of and where they are protected by thick layers of skin. Toenails are infected more often that finger nails due to generally better hygiene.

Where can you get them?

Dermatophytes are transmitted by direct contact with an infected animal or human (skin, hair, fur) and indirectly when contact is made with and infected brush, seat, hat, furniture, bedding, towel, rug, floor or other surface in a public locker room or shower. Injuries to the skin, such as cuts, burns, and especially to the cuticle make a person more susceptible to fungal infections.

How to get rid of Dermatophytes?

Read the rest of this entry »

Toenail and finger nail infections are typically caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that get into the nail bed and thrive off the nail slowly turning it into a disfigured and ugly looking claw. Yeasts and molds can also be responsible for nail infections. Several types of fungal infections have been identified by medical practitioners, with toenail fungus (Onychomycosis or Tinea unguium), being the most prevalent. You could have a combination of pathogens or germs that cause the disease.

Due to the complexity of Onychomycosis many people suffer from these recurring infections for decades and have yet to find the miracle cure among pharmacy shelves loaded with OTC drugs and endless home remedies offered by scores of vendors on the internet.

The truth is that treatment of nail infections presents a challenge for most physicians also. There is no golden standard. There is no 100% guarantee.

Recent advances in laser technologies and drug delivery devices allow practitioners to be significantly more successful in treating fungal infections than in the past. Nail’n'Toe practitioners design a specific and very comprehensive therapy course for each patient. The program will include multiple treatment modalities, topical preparations, sanitization and preventive regimen.

One very important aspect of the therapy, which is commonly neglected, is prevention. Patients with fungal nails are very susceptible to re-infections. They can be successfully treated, but since the fungus is everywhere in the environment these people may have to deal with recurrences of Onychomycosis. A complex decontamination and preventive regimen are critical for the success of the therapy.

Nail’n'Toe provides customized recommendations for our patients on how to sanitize their homes and reduce their chances of re-infections. We recommend devices and products, such as special fabrics, hosiery and shoes, which are very helpful for these purposes.

For more information about our comprehensive approach, contact Nail’n'Toe to schedule an appointment and start your therapy.

Among the most common, and in all probability most widely known fungal foot infections is Athletes Foot. It is characterized by a redness of your skin and itchiness, which can often be quite excruciating. If you suffer from Athletes Foot you also have a 30% chance of getting another nasty fungal infection – a fungal nail infection.

Fingernails or toenails with broken or broken ends, in which the seals have been decayed, are vulnerable to a fungal infection. The majority of people, sadly, just perceive fungal nail infections to be unattractive and a trivial irritation. In fact, if not treated, fungal nails may result in more serious diseases.

Toenail Fungus flourish upon the damp and frequently confined conditions within the footwear and is a specific issue for many who suffer from sweaty feet and those who are athletically activity. The fungi themselves are called dermatophytes and are related to the more widely known candida yeast.

These seemingly trivial bacterial infections might also reveal much more serious underlying health-related problems such as circulatory issues and diabetic issues. They can also from time to time lead to a secondary infection. There are lots of ways that these bacterial infections may be transmitted. Most typical is the use of common shower towels that may transport the fungus, but different ways of passing the fungus are by means of shared shoes or socks, walking on contaminated areas and in many cases the use of unsterilized nail tools.

There may also be many factors that increase your threat of toe nail fungus infection for example nail damage, bad overall health, the frequent use of shared changing amenities, trauma to the nail by poorly fitted footwear and that perennial suspect – smoking.

Anyone who currently is affected with Athletes Foot must also get checked out for a fungal toenail infection as they are at an specifically high risk.

Nail’n'Toe is a very effective nail fungus treatment. The comprehensive approach of this advanced medical therapeutic protocol allows experienced practitioners deliver the best clinical results for their patients.