Central Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates Adds Pinpointe Laser to Arsenal in Battle Against Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis)

Durham, NC, July 04, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Central Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates has recently added a PinPointe Laser for the treatment of toenail fungus (onychomycosis) to their podiatry practice in Durham, NC. The decision to add the laser was made due to the excellent results other podiatrists across the country have had with the PinPointe Laser. While there are other lasers available for the treatment of nail fungus, only the PinPointe was designed from the ground up specifically for use on onychomycosis. Other lasers used to treat nail fungus have been modified for this specific application, and some are used “off label” – meaning they are not FDA approved for such use.

The PinPointe Foot Laser was the first to be granted FDA approval and is the Gold Standard for treating onychomycosis. “In keeping with our commitment to quality, the PinPointe Laser was the natural choice for us,” stated Dr. John R. Iredale, founder and owner physician of Central Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates.

Central Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates has been in practice in the Durham and surrounding area since 1967. Dr. Iredale has been treating nail fungus for over 43 years, and he is excited that he and his associate physicians Dr. Brian Futrell and Dr. Melissa Hill finally have a safe and effective alternative treatment to offer their patients. “Though many patients have had no qualms about taking oral antifungal medications such as Lamisil, there are a lot of patients who don’t want treatments that come with serious risks or side effects. The beauty to the laser is that the treatment is quick, causes minimal to no discomfort and doesn’t require that the patient remember to take a pill every day for 2 or 3 months,” states Dr. Iredale.

The treatment of nail fungus is difficult because the fungus resides under and in the nail, making it difficult for medication to reach and destroy. The laser sends invisible laser energy into and through the nail. The pigment in the fungal organism absorbs the light causing it to heat up. This heat kills the fungus and allows the new nail growth to be clear and more normal in appearance.

Estimates suggest that 10% of the population suffer with some degree of nail fungus. Nail infection can cause permanent deformity of the nail that can interfere with being able to wear shoes, and can cause discomfort while participating in sports and even walking. Some common symptoms of onychomycosis include yellow streaks in the skin under the nail and on the underside of the nail, nail debris (the build up of tiny bits and pieces of skin and nail fragments under the nail), discoloration and thickening, brittle nails that break or crumble easily, white spots on the nail surface and often separation of the nail from the nail bed.

As with most disorders, there are varying degrees of fungal infection of the nails. The condition usually worsens over time, so it is best to seek treatment before the nails become extremely thickened and disfigured. Most patients report clear nails with just one treatment, but additional treatments can be used for preventive measures and in extreme cases are necessary to achieve clear nails.

Cynosure, the international laser company that has the exclusive distribution rights to the PinPointe laser, plans to partner with Central Carolina Foot & Ankle Associates by establishing a PinPointe training and referral center within their practice, making them the Premier PinPointe Training Provider for North Carolina.