General Podiatry, Foot and Ankle Surgery, Orthotics and Shoe Modifications located in Bingham Farms, MI

Old-Fashioned Values, Today's Technology

What We Do:

When it comes to curing unsightly toenail fungus, Dr. Arnold Gross believes that medical science has finally got it nailed.  “There’s such a high percentage of people who suffer from this problem, and there has never been a great treatment,” says the board-certified podiatrist, whose office is in Bingham Farms. “Your choice has been creams and liquids that rarely work, or a pill that has a long list of possible side effects.”

Just in time for walking barefoot through the grass or showing off strappy sandals comes the PinPointe FootLaser system, an FDA-cleared, UVA laser that kills fungus under nails at the speed of light, without pain or pills. Dr. Gross and his partner, Dr. Eric Foreman, are the first to offer this state-of-the-art treatment in Michigan.

Toenail fungus may seem innocuous, but it’s a condition that should be addressed — and that doesn’t mean hiding the nails under polish.  “For some people it’s out of sight out of mind, but that doesn’t cure the problem,” Dr. Gross says.  “The fungus nails become very thick, which can cause pain or even an abscess. And the fungus is the same type that causes skin infections and athlete’s foot, so it can cause a secondary infection.”

Treating the pesky condition has always been a challenge. Over-the-counter creams and solutions rarely work because they can’t reach the deeply imbedded fungus. Prescription pills may do the trick, but they can be hard on the body, especially the liver — which, as Dr. Gross says, “is already working very hard to help filter the poisons in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the medicines we take.” The pills have a 75-percent success rate and must be taken for three months.

PinPointe requires just one application in the doctor’s office. The infrared laser shines a laser/light beam through the toenail, and vaporizes the pathogens embedded in the nail bed and nail plate that cause toenail fungus. The procedure is painless and takes about 30 minutes. Within three months, patients start to see new growth in the form of smooth, clear, fungus-free nails (toenails completely replace themselves in six to nine months). Physicians using the technology report success rates of 88 percent.  Since it’s so new, PinPointe is considered an “off-label” application for toenail fungus; the laser is FDA-approved for dermatological and dental use. Off-label use is common; Botox, for instance, was developed to treat crossed eyes, but it was used off-label for eight years to erase wrinkles before the FDA finally approved that application. PinPointe isn’t covered by insurance, although patients can use their flex medical savings to pay for the treatment. Call Dr. Gross to request literature on the procedure and to schedule a free consultation. He also urges people to go online to his website, http://www.fixmyfeetnow.com/, to see an informative video from “Good Morning America.”

Drs. Gross and Foreman continue to provide full-service podiatry care, which includes foot and ankle orthotics and braces, diagnostic ultrasound, laser treatments of warts and ingrown toenails, diabetic foot care, and the treatment of foot injuries in athletes.

Since toenail fungus is so common, especially as we age, Dr. Gross expects PinPointe to be in high demand.“It’s exciting to be able to offer people a treatment that has a high success rate and a zero complication rate,” Dr. Gross says. “This isn’t a gimmick.”