Onychomycosis, often called toenail fungus, is a common infection that can affect one or more of your toenails. It’s also known as tinea unguium.
Toenail fungus can cause your nails to change color, get thicker, develop an odor, and even separate from the nail bed. If your toenails have darkened, there may be home remedies that can help, but it’s best to see a doctor. These changes can be unsightly and even embarrassing, impacting your overall quality of life.
Many people are looking for effective treatments to get rid of toenail fungus, and one method that’s being explored is the use of UV light, which is also used in UV shoe sanitizers. You may have heard of nail fungus UV light treatments at your local nail salon.
But how well does nail fungus UV light treatment really work, and what are the risks and benefits? This article will explore what you need to know about nail fungus UV light treatment options.
Understanding onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is the medical term for nail fungus. If you’ve got it, you’re not alone. Over half of all nail infections that doctors treat are due to fungi, according to research.
Causes and risk factors
Fungal infection is the main cause of onychomycosis, and some things can make you more likely to get it.
You’re at higher risk if you:
- Also have athlete’s foot
- Have diabetes
- Have had a nail injury
- Have poor circulation
- Have peripheral vascular disease, psoriasis, hyperhidrosis, or an autoimmune disorder
Symptoms and diagnosis
If you have nail fungus, you might notice these visible signs. However, it is important to distinguish between toenail fungus and injury.
- Nail discoloration
- Nail thickening
- Foul odor
- Separation from the nail bed
If you notice these signs, you should see a doctor. It’s important for a health professional to diagnose nail fungus because the symptoms can look like other conditions.
To diagnose nail fungus, a doctor will usually take a sample of your nail and send it to a lab for testing. This is the only way to know for sure if you have nail fungus and what kind of fungus is causing the infection.
Traditional treatment options for nail fungus
Before considering UV light, it’s helpful to know a little bit about common medical approaches to nail fungus.
Topical antifungal medications
Topical antifungals are medications that you apply directly to the surface of the nail. These medications work by interfering with the fungus’s ability to grow.
While topical medications are often the first treatment doctors recommend, they don’t always work. That’s because it can be hard for the medicine to penetrate the nail and reach the infection. To work, they must be applied every day for many months.
Oral antifungal medications
Oral antifungal medications are pills that you swallow. These medications work systemically, meaning they target the fungus from inside your body.
While oral medications are more effective than topical treatments, they can have side effects, such as liver damage and drug interactions.
Surgical nail removal
In some cases, doctors may recommend surgical nail removal. This involves removing all or part of the infected nail.
While surgical nail removal can be effective, it can also be painful and require a long recovery period.
UV Light and its Antifungal Properties
Some people are exploring the idea of using UV light to treat nail fungus, but the research is still in early stages. Here’s what we know so far.
Types of UV Light: UVA, UVB, and UVC
There are different types of UV light, and they each have different characteristics:
- UVA: This type has a longer wavelength and can penetrate deeper into the skin.
- UVB: With a medium wavelength, UVB light affects the epidermis, or outer layer of skin.
- UVC: This type has a short wavelength and is most effective at killing germs.
UVC light is the type best known for its germ-killing abilities because it can disrupt the DNA of microorganisms and keep them from reproducing.
Mechanisms of Antifungal Action of UV Light
UV light can damage fungal cells by disrupting their cell membranes and damaging their DNA. This can also stop the fungus from growing and spreading.
Safety Considerations
It’s important to remember that UV light exposure carries risks. It can damage your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. It can also damage your eyes.
If you’re using UV light for any reason, be sure to take proper safety precautions, such as wearing protective eyewear and limiting your exposure time.
UV Light Therapy for Nail Fungus: Current Research and Applications
The internet is full of devices that promise to cure nail fungus with ultraviolet (UV) light. But does it work? Here’s what the science says.
Studies on the Efficacy of UV Light for Onychomycosis
I searched for studies and clinical trials of UV light treatment for nail fungus (onychomycosis), looking for details about UVA, UVB, and UVC wavelengths, study designs, sample sizes, and outcomes.
Unfortunately, research is limited. Some studies suggest that certain wavelengths of UV light may have antifungal properties, but more robust clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings. Many of the studies had small sample sizes or design limitations that make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
The FDA has not approved UV light therapy as a treatment for nail fungus. You should consult with a healthcare professional before pursuing any alternative treatment, including UV light.
Devices and Protocols for UV Light Treatment
The UV light devices being sold for nail fungus treatment range from small, handheld devices to larger units that can treat multiple nails at once. The typical treatment protocol involves exposing the affected nails to UV light for a set period, repeated several times a week for several weeks or months. The wavelength of UV light varies depending on the device.
Advantages and Disadvantages of UV Light Therapy
One potential advantage of UV light therapy is that it’s non-invasive, unlike oral medications, which can have significant side effects. However, the limited research on its effectiveness is a major drawback. Also, UV light can damage the skin, and multiple treatment sessions are usually required.
If you’re considering UV light therapy for nail fungus, be sure to weigh the potential benefits against the risks. Talk to your doctor about your options and whether UV light therapy is right for you.
UV light therapy vs. laser treatment
If you’re seeking treatment for nail fungus, you may have heard about both UV light therapy and laser treatment.
Here’s what they have in common and how they differ.
Similarities
Both UV light and laser treatments are noninvasive. Neither one requires you to take oral medications or undergo any kind of surgery.
Also, both UV light and laser treatments aim to target the fungus directly, rather than treating the entire body.
Differences
Laser treatment uses a focused beam of light energy, while UV light is a broader spectrum of light.
Laser treatment also has more research to back it up and is more commonly used in clinics for onychomycosis (nail fungus).
Laser treatment involves filing down the nail and then applying circular pulses of light to the nail and the surrounding nail bed. The treatment usually takes place over four to six sessions, spaced a week apart.
Making a choice
When you’re deciding between UV light and laser treatment, think about:
- cost
- availability
- how severe the infection is
- your personal preferences
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you scrape out toenail fungus?
While you might be tempted, scraping out toenail fungus isn’t recommended. It can be painful, ineffective, and could potentially introduce bacteria, leading to a secondary infection. It’s best to seek professional treatment options.
Do nail fungus lights really work?
The effectiveness of nail fungus lights, particularly UV lights, is still under debate. While some studies show promise, the results are often inconsistent, and long-term efficacy isn’t fully established. It’s best to consult with a doctor to determine if this treatment option is right for you and understand the potential risks and benefits.
Will sunlight cure toenail fungus?
Unfortunately, sunlight isn’t a reliable cure for toenail fungus. While UV light can have some antimicrobial properties, the intensity and duration of exposure from sunlight are usually insufficient to penetrate the nail and effectively kill the fungus. Focus on proven treatment methods instead.
Should I cut my toenail off if it has fungus?
Cutting off your toenail yourself is strongly discouraged. It can be very painful, carries a high risk of infection, and might not even completely remove the fungus. A podiatrist may recommend partial or complete nail removal in severe cases, but this should always be done under sterile conditions.
What not to do with nail fungus?
Avoid self-treating with unproven remedies, picking at the affected nail, wearing tight shoes that trap moisture, and sharing nail clippers or files. These actions can worsen the infection and spread it to other nails or people. Stick to doctor-recommended treatments and practice good foot hygiene.
Conclusion
UV light therapy is being explored as a potential treatment for nail fungus. While the research is limited, early studies show some promise.
More research is needed to really understand how well UV light therapy works and how safe it is. Clinical trials with larger numbers of people are necessary to confirm these findings.
It’s really important to talk to a doctor or other healthcare professional to get a diagnosis and discuss your treatment options. Don’t start any treatment, including UV light therapy, without getting advice from a professional.
In the future, UV light therapy might be used in combination with other treatments to fight nail fungus more effectively. But for now, more research is needed before we can confidently recommend it.