Laser Treatments for Nail Fungus: What You Should Know

Toenail fungal infections can be serious. Along with the disfigurement and embarrassment, these infections can cause serious complications like permanent nail loss or widespread infection. There are several ways to treat toenail fungus, although the sad truth is the infection is often chronic, particularly in people who are susceptible, such as those with diabetes or a weakened immune system.

The most common way to treat a fungal infection is the oral medication Lamisil, which is cheap and usually safe -- although it can cause liver damage. One of the problems with oral medication is the fungus lives in dead tissue, which is hard to reach with medication as there is no blood flow. Even topical medication has limited success, as the nail itself is very hard to penetrate.

Even with medication, the fungal infection can still come back and many people resort to having their toenail removed surgically to prevent the nail (and fungus) from growing back. About 22% of people who take oral medication for a toenail fungal infection report the infection coming back.

How Laser Nail Fungal Treatments Work

Laser therapy is the solution to a hard-to-reach infection of the toenails. Unlike oral or topical medication, lasers produce light energy that can penetrate the tissue and destroy the fungus without harming surrounding tissue.Laser therapy for fungal infections has been approved by the FDA because it can kill the fungus that lives in (and under!) the nail. The light energy targets the pathogens that cause fungus. Unlike medication, laser therapy has no side effects and it's an option for patients who cannot take oral medication for health reasons.

The laser therapy is painless, although you may notice a warm sensation. Some people feel a mild pinprick sensation. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to kill the fungus. Once your treatment is complete, keep in mind there is a chance for the infection to reoccur if there is fungus still present elsewhere that spreads to the toenail.

While your toenail will not instantly clear up after treatments are complete, the fungus itself will be cleared. As your toenails grow out over 3 or more months, they will grow in clear and healthy.

Laser treatment is one of the most promising new treatments for fungal infection. Laser therapy is safe and effective and it's been used to treat everything from skin lesions to wrinkles for decades. Studies have found that laser therapy has a very high success rate of 87% in the treatment of toenail fungus, all without pain.

If you have toenails that are thickened, yellow, or cracked, it's important to seek treatment for the fungal infection as soon as possible to minimize and reverse disfigurement and avoid potential complications.

What You Need to Know About Penis Enlargement Products

It seems you run into ads for penis enlargement products everywhere you turn. There are certainly no shortage of pills, exercises, surgical procedures, and devices that claim they can increase the width and girth of your penis, but it's important to separate the facts from the claims.

The truth is no reputable medical organization endorses cosmetic penis surgery due to the risks, potential damage, and low patient satisfaction rate. 

Products like pills, meanwhile, are not approved by the FDA and there is absolutely no evidence that they work. In fact, some pills and supplements may actually cause more harm than good, and you don't really know what's in them.

Companies that boast non-surgical penis enlargement treatments often promote them with testimonials, questionable photographic "proof," and skewed data with very little or no scientific research. If you're interested in something that will actually do the job, here's a run-down of the most common treatments and products on the market now.

Penis Enlargement Techniques

Here's an overview of some of the most popular penis enlargement products and techniques you may hear about.

Pills/Lotions

Over-the-counter pills and products that claim they can enlarge your penis are usually made with minerals, vitamins, herbs, and/or hormones. Not a single one of these creams or pills have been proven to work at all, and some can actually be harmful.

Pumps

Penis pumps work by drawing blood into the penis to make it swell. This is also a common treatment for some types of erectile dysfunction. Pumps do work at making the penis appear larger, but it's only temporary. There is also a downside: using a vacuum pump too often or for too long can actually cause permanent damage to the elastic tissues of the penis, which means softer erections.

Jelqing/Exercises

Jelqing is a hand exercise that's designed to force blood from the base of the penis to the head. While there is no proof it works and it does seem safer than other penis enlargement techniques, keep in mind that jelqing can (and has) led to pain, scarring, and permanent disfigurement.

Traction Devices

One product that is effective is a stretcher device, which attaches to the penis and exerts traction. This device must be worn for at least six months and nearly an entire day, every day, to see results. While it can increase the length of your penis by up to an inch eventually, it can't address girth, and more research is still necessary to determine long-term safety.

Gaines Method

The P-Shot and the Gaines method are both penis enlargement procedures that use the science of platelet rich plasma (PRP). PRP comes from your own blood and its concentrated platelets and growth factors can stimulate cell regeneration, repair, and growth in a specific treatment area. This PRP penis enlargement procedure involves creating PRP from your own blood, then numbing the penis before injecting the PRP into specific areas. The Gaines method has been shown to increase the length and girth of the penis without side effects or risks, and it can help improve appearance and sensation.

While this likely does not cover all of the penis enhancement procedures and products you run across, just remember that it's important to do your research before risking your health and safety in search of a larger penis. 

The Priapus Shot - P Shot for Men - Male Enhancement

Signs You Have Low Testosterone

Testosterone deficiency is a very real health condition, and many studies in recent years have found that men who have low T are at a higher risk for osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and more. While most men know the most obvious symptom of low testosterone -- erectile dysfunction or low libido -- there are actually many signs your hormone levels are off. Watch for the following signs that you have low T. 

1. Low Libido

A man's sex drive is fueled in large part by the hormone testosterone. While every man differs in how often he wants to have sex, a man with low T will often become less interested in sex or not think about it often at all. 

2. Erectile Dysfunction

A molecule called nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for triggering erections. Testosterone is necessary to trigger the release of NO, however, and if there is not enough testosterone in a man's blood, not much NO will be released, and this can result in erectile dysfunction. Sometimes erections will be completely impossible, or they may not be firm enough for sex. 

3. Low Ejaculatory Volume

The prostate, testicles and seminal vesicles work together to create sperm-containing fluid that is released upon ejaculation. All three components need a steady supply of testosterone to produce between 1.5 and 5 cubic centimeters of ejaculatory fluid, which is considered normal. Men who have low testosterone may notice a decline in ejaculatory volume. 

4. Chronic Fatigue

While most people get tired at the end of a long day, a man with low T will feel utterly depleted, and complain that he feels more tired than he should. This is one of those low T symptoms that men often just attribute to getting older. 

5. Mood Issues

Low testosterone can also result in a wide range of emotional or mood problems, leading men to feel down, less optimistic or even depressed. It can also cause irritability and other mood problems. This problem is usually more apparent to family members and friends. 

6. Genital Numbness

Men with low T frequently complain of numb genitals, but this is one of the least recognized low testosterone symptoms among men. While the genitals are usually not completely numb, a touch can fail to deliver the spark necessary for pleasurable sex. 

7. Reduced Muscle

While men with low testosterone do not become overly weak, they will notice they are not as strong as they used to be. Some men even have noticeable shrinkage in arm and leg muscles. 

Low testosterone can be identified through simple blood work. If you have any of these symptoms of low T, schedule a consultation with HealthGains today to have your testosterone levels checked and discuss your treatment options.

How PRP Injections Reduce Wrinkles

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of wrinkle treatments on the market today. From creams and laser treatments to surgery, dermal fillers and injections, how can you decide which option is right for you? One of the newer options today is something called PRP therapy.

Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, or PRP, has been used for decades in sports medicine and to help people recover from wounds. Over the last few years, it has gained a reputation in the cosmetic industry for its ability to rejuvenate skin. PRP injections can do what dermal fillers, surgery and other treatments cannot: it not only improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it also improves skin texture and tone. One of the biggest benefits is that PRP is also all natural, as it uses your own blood to treat saggy skin on the face, forehead wrinkles, crow's feet and more.

Understanding Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelet rich plasma therapy begins by drawing vials of blood from your arm and spinning it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets. Once these platelets and growth factors are concentrated, they are injected into treatment areas of your face or neck. Platelets are tiny cells that help with clotting. When they come together in the blood, they release enzymes that speed healing and prompt tissue repair, while also drawing stem cells to the damaged area.

PRP can be injected into sun-damaged skin, wrinkled skin or sagging areas to focus your natural healing ability where it is needed to achieve a more youthful appearance.

How PRP Injections are Used

PRP therapy can speed healing, improve fine lines, and improve your skin texture. Unlike many fillers, which are only appropriate for small or large wrinkles, or certain areas of the face, PRP therapy can improve the following:

·         Deep acne scarring

·         Forehead wrinkles

·         Neck lines and wrinkles

·         Bags under the eyes

·         Sagging, loose skin

·         Lip wrinkles

·         Marionette lines

·         Nasolabial folds

·         Crow's feet

PRP Side Effects: What You Should Know

Another benefit of PRP therapy? There are virtually no side effects, aside from redness at the injection site and the potential for mild bruising, both of which are common after any injection. Because this treatment uses your own blood, you do not risk any allergic reaction or rejection.

It's important to realize that PRP therapy, while impressive, will not offer surgical results and it cannot offer a dramatic improvement in very loose skin or very deep wrinkles. Still, this anti-aging treatment can offer big improvement in many skin problems like fine lines and poor skin texture.

When used for cosmetic or anti-aging purposes, you can expect to need up to three injections that are spaced four weeks apart. This will offer the very best results, which may be visible as soon as one to two weeks after your procedure. The final results can take up to three months, as PRP induces your body to use its own healing mechanism. Results usually last around two years.

Are you looking for a safe, effective and all-natural anti-aging solution to help turn back the clock? PRP injections may be the right treatment option for you. Schedule an appointment with Healthgains to discuss the benefits of PRP therapy and learn more about what it can do for you.

Facial Fat Transfer: Use Your Own Fat to Turn Back Time

Non-surgical anti-aging treatments like Botox are now the most common procedures performed in the United States, quickly outpacing surgical procedures like facelift surgery. It's no surprise that many people want to reverse signs of facial aging without incisions. One revolutionary new technique that is quickly catching on is known as facial fat grafting, or fat transfer. This procedure uses your own fat from undesired areas like the buttocks or hips to add facial volume, recreating a youthful and healthy appearance.

As we age, we tend to gain weight on the body while losing fat in the face, which leads to a sunken or gaunt appearance. This is actually the primary reason the face begins to look older, as the under eye area looks volume, along with the temples and cheeks, allowing skin to sag and wrinkle further.

Fat transfer can be done to specific areas of the face like the temples, cheeks, under eye area and elsewhere to restore this lost volume -- without incisions. Facial fat grafting involves harvesting live fat cells from one area of the body, usually the stomach, thighs or flanks, and then processing it before injecting it in very small amounts with a fine needle to improve contour and fullness of the face.

Rather than turning to artificial or natural fillers that typically last anywhere from 6 to 18 months, fat transfer uses your own body and there is no risk of rejection. The transferred fat is also alive and it can produce permanent results, depending on how fast the body can form a new blood supply to the transferred fat.

While fat transfer cannot replace other procedures like a facelift, it can be an excellent complement to achieve better results. The procedure itself takes no more than two hours as an outpatient procedure. Recovery usually takes between one and two weeks, with many patients returning to work after seven days. Bruising and swelling are common, and the face may appear overfilled at first. Some amount of the transferred fat will die and be absorbed by the body, however, to reveal the final results.

The amount of fat that survives the transfer and becomes permanent depends largely on the skill of the surgeon, as this is one of the most technique-dependent procedures performed today. When done improperly, fat grafting can result in bumps or overfilling or underfilling. Always seek out a highly skilled surgeon to perform facial fat transfer for long-lasting and natural results.