David Sabet, DPM, describes oral medications used to treat nail fungus. The Drug Infoline describes Penlac along with directions for its use. Eventually the pain and discoloration sent her to the doctor. Most are prescribed oral medications that stop the infection before skin cells harden into flat nails. The FDA recently approved a topical lacquer called Penlac that brushes on the surface of the nail.
Doctors caution, however, that the topical medication has limited effectiveness.
Only a small number of patients who used the lacquer in clinical studies got rid of their nail infections. Patients will mistake the fungus at first as just a discoloration and allow it to progress. It usually takes a couple of years before it becomes a full blown case. Some women try to hide the problem with nail polish. But doctors say that increases the moisture under the nail and actually worsens the condition.