Curanail 5% is an over-the-counter product containing amorolfine, and is a topical treatment used for fungal nail infections. The nail solution is painted onto the infected nail using the brush provided with your purchase of Curanail 5%. It works by soaking in through the nail to kill the fungus responsible for the infection. A fungal nail infection most commonly affects the toenails but can also affect the fingernails. It is most commonly caused by the same fungi that cause athletes foot. The fungi often cause the infected nail to become discoloured, brittle, thickened or distorted. If left untreated the nail may be destroyed and the surrounding skin can also become infected. This medicine is available for purchase over-the-counter in most pharmacies. How does Curanail work? Curanail contains amorolfine which kills fungi and prevents the infection from spreading further. Amorolfine is able to penetrate the nail’s surface and creates small holes within the fungi’s outer membranes. This causes the fungal cells to leak which is why the fungi dies. In order to get the best result using Curanail, it’s vital to make sure you file down the infected nails using the nail files provided before each weekly application. This allows Curanail to absorb deeper within the nail to have the best chance of fully killing off the fungus infection.

Finasteride (also known by the brand name Propecia) is a medication used to treat hair loss in men. It is also used to manage urinary symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride is used to manage the most common type of hair loss, often associated with ageing, called male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. It is commonly used alongside minoxidil liquid or foam, another hair loss medication. Unlike minoxidil, which can only facilitate hair regrowth, finasteride can prevent hair loss as well. Finasteride is considered most effective on the crown area of the scalp, although studies have shown it can benefit all areas of the scalp affected by male pattern baldness. Finasteride is mainly available as tablets to be taken once a day. The best results are seen when the medication is taken every day, and it can take around six to nine months before you see the full effects. Many people that take finasteride experience a shedding phase early on in their treatment (usually in the first few months). This phase causes you to lose more hair than normal as older damaged hairs are lost. These are then replaced by newer and stronger hairs. Shedding is nothing to worry about, and it shows the medication is working. Although finasteride can cause hair regrowth, it is considered to be more of a preventative medication for further hair loss. Therefore, it is best to begin finasteride treatment when you first start to notice signs of male pattern baldness. If you have already lost most of your hair, finasteride is unlikely to be useful as it is not usually associated with massive amounts of hair regrowth. Also, any regrowth that you gain is not permanent; if you stop taking finasteride, this hair will fall out again.

The active ingredient present in Selsun shampoo is a medication called selenium sulphide. It is effective in treating itching, flaking, or scaling of the skin due to conditions such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. Selenium sulphide has antibacterial and mild anti-fungal properties. It also has an effect on reducing irritation and slowing down the production of skin cells and excess natural oil (sebum) on the scalp which can cause dandruff.

Regaine contains minoxidil as its active ingredient. Minoxidil is a medication originally used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). However, it was later discovered that a side effect of minoxidil tablets was an increase in hair growth and thickness, which pleased those patients who were experiencing balding. It’s now been formulated as a liquid or foam to apply to the scalp to target the most common type of hair loss, often associated with ageing, called male or female pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia. Minoxidil tablets can still be used to treat hypertension, but it’s not one of the common treatments. Regaine can be obtained without a prescription from a pharmacy or online. There are different products for men and women. Regaine products for men are available in the 5% strength to be used twice a day. Regaine products for women are available in two strengths, 2% (to be used twice a day) or 5% (to be used once a day). If you are using a twice-daily product, it should be applied 12 hours apart and allowed to work for at least 4 hours without washing or rinsing the area.

Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo's effectiveness can be attributed to its active ingredient, ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is a powerful antifungal agent with a broad spectrum of action, meaning it can combat a wide range of yeasts and fungi that may contribute to dandruff. This antifungal action is critical in addressing the root cause of dandruff by targeting the yeasts responsible for the condition. Ketoconazole's mechanism of action involves disrupting the production of vital components needed for the cell membranes of these yeasts. By interfering with their cell membrane development, ketoconazole effectively kills off the yeast population, leading to a reduction in dandruff symptoms. Moreover, ketoconazole has an additional benefit in that it exerts a direct anti-inflammatory effect on the scalp. This anti-inflammatory action helps alleviate the redness and itching often associated with dandruff, providing relief to individuals experiencing discomfort.

Fungal nail infections will not get better without treatment. Treating a fungal nail infection can take a long time, and it is important to say that treatment is only necessary if the person is bothered by the look or feel of the nail. Here Healthwords's pharmacists walk you through the options available.

Minoxidil is a medication originally used to treat high blood pressure. However, it was later discovered that a side effect of Minoxidil tablets was an increase in hair growth and thickness, which pleased those patients who were experiencing balding. It’s now been formulated as a liquid or foam to apply to the scalp to target the most common type of hair loss, often associated with ageing, called male or female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. Minoxidil tablets can still be used to treat hypertension, but it’s not one of the common treatments. Minoxidil hair loss treatment can be obtained without a prescription from a pharmacy or online in two strengths, 2% (recommended for females) and 5% (recommended for males). Minoxidil should be applied twice daily, 12 hours apart and allowed to work for at least 4 hours without washing or rinsing the area.

Coal tar or coal tar extract is a medication effective in treating itching, flaking, or skin scaling due to conditions such as dandruff (Seborrheic dermatitis) and psoriasis. Coal tar works by initiating the shedding of dead cells from the top layers of your skin and slowing the production of skin cells, reducing the symptoms of scaling, dryness of your skin and itching. Alphosyl ‘2 in 1’ shampoo contains an alcoholic coal tar extract at 5% and is a regular over the counter medication available here in the UK.