Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of a Multiwavelength VCSEL Laser on the Growth of Antifungal Drug-Resistant Dermatophytes

Dermatophytosis, including tinea pedis and onychomycosis, represents one of the most prevalent superficial fungal infections worldwide. These conditions are most commonly caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and are frequently associated with chronicity, relapse, and increasing antifungal drug resistance. Current antifungal treatments for dermatophytosis are often limited by insufficient drug penetration, prolonged treatment duration, adverse effects, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains, underscoring the need for alternative or adjunctive therapeutic approaches. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal efficacy of a low-level, multi-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) system against T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes using clinical isolates obtained from patients with onychomycosis. Multi-wavelength VCSEL irradiation demonstrated measurable suppression of fungal growth in vitro and reduced fungal burden in a murine skin infection model. Notably, growth inhibition was observed even in clinical isolates exhibiting reduced susceptibility to conventional antifungal agents. Furthermore, VCSEL irradiation increased inhibitory effects when combined with antifungal drugs, suggesting that laser exposure may augment antifungal activity without inducing thermal damage. Collectively, these findings indicate that multi-wavelength VCSEL irradiation represents a potentially effective, noninvasive approach for the management of dermatophyte infections, either as a standalone treatment or as an adjunct to existing antifungal therapies.