What are the treatment methods for gray nail?

The main treatments for gray nail (onychomycosis) include: 1. **Topical medication therapy**: Suitable for patients with mild gray nail, commonly used medications include 30% acetic acid, 5% amorolfine nail lacquer, terbinafine cream, etc. These medications should be applied directly onto the affected nails and used consistently for a period of time, usually several months, to observe therapeutic effects. 2. **Oral medication therapy**: For patients with multiple affected nails or more severe infection, combination therapy with oral antifungal drugs such as itraconazole and terbinafine may be required. These medications can effectively kill fungi, but attention must be paid to the duration and dosage to avoid side effects. 3. **Surgical treatment**: In specific cases, such as when the nail is severely damaged or complications like paronychia are present, surgical options such as nail avulsion may be considered. However, this method is invasive and associated with a high recurrence rate, so it should be carefully selected. 4. **Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy**: External treatments using TCM preparations such as medicinal vinegar soaks or ointments. For example, soaking the affected nails in a solution containing traditional herbs like *Pseudolarix kaempferi* (土槿皮), *Mylabris phalerata* (斑蝥), and realgar, or using acupuncture, moxibustion, and other TCM techniques as adjunctive therapy. 5. **Occlusion and filing technique**: While treating gray nail, the deformed and thickened nail plates affected by fungal invasion are filed down to allow antifungal agents to act directly on the infected area.