Long-pulsed 1,064-nm gallium arsenide laser surgical device treatment for improving symptoms of onychomycosis: a comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND

Onychomycosis is the most common infective nail disease, and treatment includes topical and systemic antifungal medications. Recently, laser therapy has emerged as a therapeutic option for patients who are unable to take oral antifungal agents. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of a novel long-pulsed 1,064-nm gallium arsenide (GaAs) laser surgical device for onychomycosis.

METHODS

This 24-week single-center, single-blind, active-controlled exploratory clinical study comparatively evaluated the long-pulsed 1,064-nm GaAs laser (Healer1064) with the short-pulsed Nd:YAG laser surgical device in 20 participants randomly assigned to receive either test or control treatment at 4-week intervals during the 12-week treatment period. The rate of clinical improvement was evaluated by two independent dermatologist evaluators using the Onychomycosis Severity Index-score (OSI-score) and Turbidity Scale with standard photographs. Overall improvement and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Safety evaluation included pain intensity and adverse events.

RESULTS

In 44 (test: 25; control: 19) cases in 19 participants who completed treatment, the clinical improvement rate in the test and control groups was 52.00% (13/52 cases) and 44.44% (9/19 cases), respectively, with significantly lower pain scores in the test than the control group for every treatment visit (P < 0.05) and without severe adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel long-pulsed 1,064-nm GaAs laser showed greater, albeit nonsignificant, clinical improvement and was associated with less pain during treatment. Thus, the Healer1064 can provide satisfactory treatment outcomes through painless and effective improvement in onychomycosis symptoms.