Cath Lab Digest

Case Study: When OTC Antifungals Do Not Relieve Onychomycosis

A 52-year-old female with a history of intense athletics as a teen and a chronic history of tinea pedis recently presented to my office. She developed fungal nails in her late 20s. She tried many OTC remedies and was opposed to the use of oral antifungal medications. She still had tinea that she treated occasionally with OTC cream.

   We did three laser treatments four to six weeks apart for her onychomycosis and aggressively treated the tinea. We also used an antifungal shoe spray and a topical oil-based antifungal liquid. I plan to have her come into the office three times per year for maintenance laser treatments. She still uses the aforementioned OTC products four times per week. The photos were at day one (above left) and seven months (below right) showing excellent clearing.

In Conclusion

It is my hope that we as a profession can solidify the role of laser treatment into a unified purpose so we can be the experts with the exciting technology of lasers.

   Dr. Katz is in private practice in Tampa, Fla. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.