A PIONEERING health tech firm in Alloa has made leaps and bounds towards successfully treating a common skin condition.

Emblation have recruited Dr Aditya K Gupta, one of the world’s foremost experts on treating toenail fungus, to lead a clinical trial in advancing treatment.

Toenail fungus affects millions of sufferers and is difficult to treat, with Emblation hoping new microwave treatments could prove effective.

The tech firm’s Swift device has been rolled out worldwide and is successful in treating common and plantar warts, with scientists hoping it could yield similar results on toenail fungus.

Dr Gupta will lead a pilot study following 45 patients who will each undergo 12 months of treatment using the Swift device.

Dr Matt Kidd, director of research and development at Emblation, said: “It is early in the process, but we are thrilled to have a formal pilot study underway and to have an eminent expert as Dr Gupta to lead it.

“Any effective new treatment for this persistent and unsightly condition will be welcome by both patients and clinicians, who have too few options available to them.

“All medical research is rightly very demanding and assessed at every stage, so there is some way to go before we have results, but we are all very excited about the possibilities.”

It is estimated that up to 12 per cent of the population suffer from toenail fungus, with many not even noticing they have the condition.

Pilot patients who do not achieve results will be offered further treatments.