Efficacy of Nd:YAG Laser 1064-nm in the Treatment of Onychomycosis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (NdYAG) laser 1064 nm in the management of onychomycosis. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive observational study. Place and Duration of the Study Department of Dermatology, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2022 to May 2023. METHODOLOGY: Thirty patients, of either gender, aged between 20 and 60 years, with a clinical diagnosis and a positive KOH test for onychomycosis. Long-pulsed 1064-nm NdYAG laser therapy was administered to patients. On the basis of nail plate thickness, laser therapy was given once a week for a month at a speed of 25 mm/sec and a spot diameter of 4 mm, with fluencies ranging from 40 - 60 J/cm2. Before and six months' post-treatment, the patients' photos were taken and were evaluated based on dermoscopic results and clinical improvement. RESULTS: The patients' average age was 40.20 ± 15.85 years, and their average duration of disease was 3.0 ± 1.41 years. Six (20%) were males and 24 (80%) cases were females. The most prevalent clinical type was distolateral subungual onychomycosis 22 (73%). Fourteen (46.6%) cases showed excellent improvement, 6 (20%) cases showed good improvement, and 10 (33.3%) cases showed mild improvement. CONCLUSION: Long-pulsed NdYAG laser is a safe and efficient option for onychomycosis because of its high clinical cure rates, lack of side effects, and clinical therapeutic efficacy. KEY WORDS Onychomycosis, NdYAG laser 1064-nm, Dermatology, Nail, Lasers in dermatology.