A Patient's Success Story:
Emma’s Happy Ending from Toe to Toe
How the Coronavirus pandemic fueled one woman's renewed commitment and determination to eliminate her chronic toenail fungus problem once and for all.
Emma struggled with toenail fungus for decades. A very long time ago, she sought help from a podiatrist who told her the only way to get rid of it is to take an oral antifungal drug every day. When she learned about the possible side effect of liver damage, she decided not to take the risk.
Emma always felt self-conscious about her toenails. She started experimenting with over-the-counter products including popular, natural tea tree oil formulas that claim to clear away bacteria and fungus. She exclaims, “I tried everything but nothing worked!”
My toes looked so bad, I didn’t even want to look at them.
Embarrassed to show her unsightly toes in public, Emma believed her only option was to “cover them up” with nail overlays and polish. Over the years, she handled it by visiting nail salons on a regular basis. She recalls one visit in particular, “My toes looked so bad, I didn’t even want to look at them. I would always encourage the pedicurist to work faster in case someone I know comes in and sees me. Then my worst fears were realized. A friend of mine came up to me to say hello. I’ll never forget the look on her face.”
Looking back, she believes the inadequate sterilization habits of these salons were the root cause of her fungus. But without an alternative, she found herself caught in a vicious circle—hide her toenail fungus by getting pedicures that would contribute to the very problem.
Flash forward to 2020—the year that was consumed by COVID-19. Because nail salons were ordered to shut down temporarily, Emma could no longer hide her chronic toenail fungus problem and finally had to come face-to-face with her toes. “I was in denial,” she admits. “I was resolved with getting pedicures all the time to mask the problem until I couldn’t get them anymore.” The impact of the pandemic prompted her to look into real solutions to get rid of toenail fungus once and for all. If there was ever a silver lining, this would be it.
Emma first heard about PinPointe™ FootLaser® treatments from a friend who referred her to Bay Area Foot & Laser Podiatry Group. Surprised to learn that a laser procedure for toenail fungus even existed, she did her due diligence and ultimately decided on Dr. Huey.
It’s not a lost cause, there’s real hope, and we can help people get rid of their fungus.
Dr. Huey offers a candid perspective, “Chronic toenail fungus can be difficult to treat. It can take months to see results and still, repeat infections are common. That’s why so many people come in feeling so defeated about it. We think it’s important for patients to understand the reality of what we’re dealing with here, but also to know that it’s not a lost cause, there’s real hope, and we can help people get rid of their fungus. Patients like Emma leave our office feeling confident by knowing that a successful outcome takes time and patience.”
So what is PinPointe™ FootLaser® exactly? It is a simple laser procedure that is virtually pain-free, takes less than an hour, and requires no anesthesia. Cleared by the FDA, it is considered safe and effective for everyone.
“How it works is quite easy to explain,” says Dr. Huey. “While I slowly move the laser over the area of the infection, the laser kills the fungus under the nail bed without damaging the nail or surrounding skin. Because toenails are slow to grow out, you won’t start seeing results until the new healthy nails grow in. That’s where your patience comes in. While there’s always a risk of re-infection, most of our patients achieve effective results after just one treatment.1”
I was so ready for it. Plus, I was diligent in following Dr. Huey’s care plan every day.
In addition to laser treatments on Emma’s two big toes, Dr. Huey provided her with a home-care plan that included applying an antifungal cream and a brush-on solution daily, washing socks inside out in hot water, keeping shoes clean, and storing them away from dark, moist locations where bacteria and fungus can thrive. Emma recalls, “I was so ready for it. Plus, I was diligent in following Dr. Huey’s care plan every day.”
After receiving just one laser treatment and following Dr. Huey’s home-care instructions to the letter, Emma could see the benefit before her eyes while her new healthy nails were growing in. She couldn’t be happier with the results. Six months later at her recheck appointment, she could tell Dr. Huey was equally as delighted with the outcome. The fungal infection that plagued Emma for so long was finally gone.
With great confidence and gleeful enthusiasm, Emma expresses her parting thoughts, “Now, I’m more comfortable in my own skin. If anyone is ever on the fence about Laser to get rid of toenail fungus, then they can take it from me that it really does work.”
We are thankful to this patient for sharing her story publicly. Her name has been changed to protect her right to privacy. She was not paid nor provided with products or services in exchange for her testimonial. Exact results and experience are unique to each patient.
1 Many patients see an improvement after one procedure; however, effective results vary and are not guaranteed. The number of treatments required depends on the severity of the condition and the patient’s ability to reduce a recurrence of the infection.
If you’re interested in keeping your toes looking their best, then check out this American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) article that offers some really good Pedicure Do’s and Don’ts.