Limitations of systemic, topical therapies leading to interest in light-based treatment options
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Lasers may be a promising treatment for onychomycosis but larger studies are needed to determine optimal treatment conditions, according to a review published online Dec. 24 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Arisa E. Ortiz, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues conducted a literature review to provide an overview and critical assessment of the utilization of laser and other energy-based treatments for onychomycosis.
The authors say that early data are promising for the use of laser and light-based modalities for the treatment of onychomycosis fungal infections; however, many of these studies are small or poorly designed.
"Further evaluation and larger studies are needed to determine the optimal light source, pulse duration, and treatment schedule for long-term success," Ortiz and colleagues conclude.
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