Final answer:
Infections of the hair, skin, and nails may be effectively treated with antifungal drugs that often end with "conazole", such as clotrimazole, econazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole. These medications are specially designed to combat fungal infections and are mostly available by prescription, with some over-the-counter options.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infections of hair, skin, and nails may be treated with drugs that typically end with "conazole". These drugs are antifungals (c), which are a subset of antimicrobials used to treat fungal infections. Medications such as clotrimazole, econazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole are examples of antifungal drugs. These antifungals work by either taken orally or applied topically, depending on the severity and location of the infection. Most antifungal drugs require a prescription, though some, like clotrimazole, are available over-the-counter for treating conditions like athlete's foot and other fungal infections of the skin.
Fungi have cells that are similar to human cells, which explains why the targets for anti-fungal drugs are much more limited than those for antibiotics or antivirals. Diseases such as cutaneous candidiasis and nail infections (tinea unguium) are typically caused by fungi like Candida and dermatophytes, respectively, and are treated effectively with azole medications. Prevention of recurrent infections includes following treatment recommendations and maintaining good hygiene.