Foot fungus is one of the most difficult foot conditions to treat—Finesse Footcare produces dramatic results with Lunula lasers
By Patricia Nugent
It all began with a can of chili.
Eleven years ago, Debby D. dropped a can of chili on her big toe. It turned black within a few days and felt loose. Then within a month, fungus set in—first on the big toe, then spreading to all the others.
“My feet looked awful, so I tried covering them up with nail polish, which I found out later was the worst thing you could do as it traps in moisture at the nail bed and fungi thrive in moisture,” says Debby. “And it doesn’t help that I love to exercise, hitting the treadmill every day. I tried to heal the fungus myself with over-the-counter creams, but there was no improvement.”
When she’d had enough, she used a Groupon for a podiatrist on the West Side who did laser work.
Unfortunately, it worked only slightly, the fungus improved marginally, then it went back to how bad it was originally within a few months.
When Debby saw a television commercial for Dr. Danielle Shaper of Finesse Footcare, that touched on the Lunula laser to treat fungus, she decided to give it a try.
“Since my case was pretty advanced, Dr. Shaper suggested a three-prong care approach of laser treatment, oral and topical treatment,” Debby says. “The laser was easy, several sessions, six weeks apart. I just went in and put my feet in the units for a few minutes. It was pain-free. Within a few weeks I noticed the toes were clearing up. Now they are 100% back to normal and I couldn’t be happier. No more hiding my feet or dreading summer sandals. Throughout the treatment, Dr. Shaper was very kind, personable and professional.”
As a preventive measure to stay fungus-free, Debby plans to visit Dr. Shaper once a year for preventive treatment.
How the Non-Thermal Laser Operates
Although toenail fungus is a non-critical condition, Dr. Shaper says it should be treated before it worsens.
“This isn’t something that will go away over time,” she says. “It’ll only spread and become more difficult to treat.”
Dr. Shaper has spent her career researching new breakthrough treatments, and the FDA-cleared Lunula low-level laser is an example of that. Made in the USA, this non-thermal laser is painless and touchless. Patients position their feet under it for 12 minutes per session. It takes six sessions to show improvement. Being non-thermal is especially important in patients who have diabetes and neuropathy and might not be able to feel the heat of a traditional laser.
“It specifically targets fungus that lives within and under the toenail without harming tissue or producing negative side effects,” she says.
Since the Lunula taps into low wavelengths and frequencies, patients do not experience any burning sensations or discomfort. Plus, there’s no downtime and there are no restrictions. Patients are free to leave Dr. Shaper’s office following treatment and go about their day.
“I’ve seen so much success in difficult-to-treat patients, after introducing the laser, within a year I bought a second one to treat both feet at the same time,” she says. “It’s rewarding to make such a positive difference in their lives.”
Finesse Footcare is located in the Hilltop Building at 5035 Mayfield Road, Suite 202, in Lyndhurst. As a full-service podiatrist, in addition to laser therapy, Dr. Shaper also treats most foot and ankle issues, ranging from ingrown toenails to bunions, heel pain, hammertoes, corns, warts, calluses and sprained ankles. She also offers diabetic foot care, orthotics, sports medicine and surgery. Call 216-382-8070 or visit FinesseFootcare.com for more information.