title: The Effect of Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm Laser in the Treatment of Onychomycosis In Vivo.
abstract: In this prospective clinical study, the Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm laser (Light Age, Inc., Somerset, NJ, USA) was used on 131 onychomycosis subjects (94 females, 37 males; ages 18 to 68 years). Mycotic cultures were taken and fungus types were detected. The laser protocol included two sessions with a one-month interval. Treatment duration was approximately 15 minutes per session and patients were observed over a 3-month time period. Laser fluencies of 14 J/cm(2) were applied at 9 billionths of a second pulse duration and at 5 Hz frequency. Follow-up was performed at 3 months with mycological cultures. Before and after digital photographs were taken. Adverse effects were recorded and all participants completed "self-evaluation questionnaires" rating their level of satisfaction. All subjects were well satisfied with the treatments, there were no noticeable side effects, and no significant differences were found treating men versus women. At the 3-month follow-up 95.42% of the patients were laboratory mycologically cured of fungal infection. This clinical study demonstrates that fungal nail infections can be effectively and safely treated with Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 nm/532 nm laser. It can also be combined with systemic oral antifungals providing more limited treatment time.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Clinic, 88 Tsimiski Street, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalokasidis
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Center, Reduitstrare 13, 76829 Landau, Germany ; Gazi University Medical Faculty, Department of Dermatology, 06510 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University School of Medicine, Second Department of Dermatology and Venereology, 54622 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Myrto-Georgia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Trakatelli
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Department CHU Brugmann-Saint Pierre, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Center, Reduitstrare 13, 76829 Landau, Germany ; Carol Davila University of Medicine, Dionisie Lupu Street, 020021 Bucharest, Romania ; Osnabrueck University, Sedanstraße 115, 49090 Osnabrueck, Germany ; Bern University, Department of Dermatology, 117 Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fritz