The toenails and fingernails, made up of layers of hardened protein referred to as keratin, protect the underlying tissues of the toes and fingers. According to the MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, nail health can predict overall health and indicate problems that may require medical attention, including conditions like nail infections. Nail infections often discolor or deform the nail and, left untreated, can cause permanent damage. A variety of treatments exist to combat these infections.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
MayoClinic.com reports that over-the-counter treatments to fight nail fungus infections exist but are not very effective at killing fungus. The website Clear Nail Fungus reviews different over-the-counter solutions but warns that the solutions produce slow results. The most highly recommended, ZetaClear, comes with an approval from the U.S. Federal Drug Administration as a homeopathic treatment for nail fungus. It claims to promote healthy nails by killing the fungus.
Prescription Treatments
Prescription treatments to treat nail infections remain the most successful option. MayoClinic.com recommends the oral antifungal medications terbinafine and itraconazole as effective remedies. Another infection of the nail called paronychia may need antibiotics to clear the condition. DermNet NZ, an information site produced by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Inc., notes that nail infections caused by psoriasis need more involved medical treatment, the type of which depends on the severity of the condition. Prescription treatments include high-potency corticosteroid solution or ointment applied directly to the nail, intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections and orally-taken methotrexate, retinoids, ciclosporin and biologic. Topical 5-fluorouracil cream may also improve a nail psoriasis infection.
Home Remedies
MayoClinic.com reports on two home remedies to treat a fungal nail infection. While no scientific evidence proves the efficacy of using vinegar to fight an infection of the nails, it can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Soaking the nails daily in a vinegar solution could prove useful. The application of Vicks VapoRub to the nail may also kill a fungal infection. For the treatment of paronychia, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends soaking infected nails in hot water at least twice a day to reduce swelling and pain associated with the infection. Exposure to ultraviolet light, like sunlight, may improve nail psoriasis infections.
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