For dermatophytosis involving hair or nails, what is the recommended therapy?

• A. Topical antifungal creams
• B. Topical antibiotics
• C. Oral antifungal azoles
• D. Oral steroids

Answer: (C)

Infections of hair or nails are hard to treat with topical agents because these sites are poorly penetrated by creams and lotions. The fungus hides in the hair shaft and beneath the nail plate, so you need a medicine that reaches through the bloodstream to that tissue. Oral antifungal drugs do just that, delivering therapeutic levels to keratinized tissues and effectively eradicating dermatophytes in these locations. Among systemic options, oral antifungal azoles are a common and effective choice for tinea capitis and onychomycosis, which is why they’re the best answer here. Topical antifungals alone often fail for hair or nail infections due to limited penetration; antibiotics target bacteria, not fungi; and oral steroids would worsen fungal infections by suppressing the immune response.