Effect of Long-pulsed Nd:YAG Laser on Normal Toenail Growth: A Single Case Report

Long-pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers are widely used in treating onychomycosis, and clinicians have anecdotally observed accelerated nail growth following laser therapy. However, whether laser irradiation influences nail growth in healthy, nononychomycotic nails remains unclear. Herein, we report a single case in which a healthy left great toenail was irradiated with a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser once weekly for 28 weeks, with the contralateral toenail as an untreated control. At baseline, a superficial groove was created on both great toenails using a CO2 laser to provide a standardized reference point. Nail length from the proximal nail fold to the groove was measured using a direct caliper at baseline and at 4-week intervals up to week 28, and nail growth was calculated per interval. Nail growth between the treated and untreated nails was not significantly different across measurement periods. This case suggests that repeated long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation does not measurably accelerate nail growth in healthy toenails. Thus, further studies involving larger cohorts are warranted to clarify the relationship between laser therapy and nail growth dynamics.