Keep your feet fungus-free – with lasers

I had become increasingly worried that I had inherited a truly terrible Towey genetic trait: knobbly, gnarly, unsightly feet. Bunions, ingrown toenails, fungal nail infections . . . You name it, we’ve had it.

A trip to the podiatrist has relieved my fears; all was not as bad as I had feared. Niall Donohoe, podiatrist at Mink Hand and Foot Spa in Ballsbridge, is pioneering a new fungal nail treatment that involves noninvasive cold lasers. The Lunula technology works by breaking down the fat layer of the fungus and increasing blood flow to encourage the immune system to attack the infection.

The treatment is not cheap: €125 per session, and most clients will need more than one, depending on the severity of the infection. However, it is much less invasive, more successful and faster than the other options, such as antibiotics or topical nail paint, both of which can take up to nine months to deliver results.

That said, if the infection is minor and you’re not too bothered about how it looks, it might be best to take the cheaper route first. For those with quite severe or painful infections, the laser treatment is definitely worth a try.

Donohoe also assured me that the dreaded Towey bunions are not in my future. He could tell, by looking at the shape of my feet, that I would not be prone to them, despite the fact they can be genetic.

He was able to whip out corns and file away large sections of callus swiftly and painlessly, leaving my feet feeling brand new. This was followed by a Margaret Dabbs pedicure, which uses luxurious anti-fungal products to make you feel extra fancy.

I left with feet that were more like hands and a pep in my step.