Curanail 5% Medicated Nail Lacquer 3ml
Once-weekly amorolfine 5% nail lacquer for mild fungal nail infection — the same active ingredient as Loceryl.
- One application a week — paint on like a clear varnish
- Treats up to two affected nails (dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds)
- Kit includes nail files, alcohol pads and reusable applicators
- Cosmetic nail varnish can still be worn over it
- Dispensed by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (1126145)
£29.99
Curanail 5% medicated nail lacquer is a once-weekly treatment for mild fungal nail infection (onychomycosis). It contains amorolfine 5% w/v — the same active ingredient as Loceryl — and is applied to the nail like a clear varnish, so it treats the infection where it lives, inside and under the nail plate, without tablets.
What Curanail treats
Curanail is licensed for mild cases of distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis — the common form of fungal nail infection that starts at the free edge or the side of the nail and works inwards. It is effective against dermatophytes, yeasts and moulds, the three groups responsible for almost all fungal nail infections.
Typical signs that Curanail is the right choice:
- Discolouration — white, yellow or brown patches in the nail
- Thickening or crumbling at the free edge or side of the nail
- No more than two nails affected
- The base of the nail (the matrix, under the cuticle) is still clear
If the infection has reached the nail base, if more than two nails are involved, or if the whole nail is thickened and lifting, Curanail is not the right treatment on its own — speak to our pharmacist, as oral treatment may be needed.
How Curanail works
Amorolfine disrupts the fungal cell membrane, stopping the fungus from growing and killing it off. Because it is formulated as a lacquer rather than a cream, it forms a film that stays on the nail for a full week and releases the active ingredient steadily into the nail plate — which is why a single weekly application is enough.
How to apply Curanail
- File the nail. Using the nail files supplied, file down the affected areas of nail — particularly the nail surface — as thoroughly as you can.
- Clean and degrease. Wipe the nail with one of the alcohol cleaning pads supplied.
- Apply the lacquer. Using a reusable applicator, paint the lacquer over the whole nail surface and let it dry for about three minutes.
- Clean the applicator with the same alcohol pad before returning it to the bottle, and close the bottle tightly.
- Repeat once a week, removing the previous week’s lacquer with an alcohol pad before reapplying.
Important: never use a nail file that has been used on an infected nail on your healthy nails — that is how the infection spreads between nails.
How long Curanail takes to work
Fungal nails clear slowly because the nail itself has to grow out. Treatment continues until the nail has regrown and is visibly clear:
- Fingernails — about six months
- Toenails — about nine to twelve months
Progress should be reviewed roughly every three months. You will not see a change in the damaged part of the nail — that section never recovers. What you are looking for is healthy, clear nail growing in from the base. Stopping early is the most common reason treatment fails.
Who can use Curanail
Curanail is for adults aged 18 and over. Do not use it if you are allergic to amorolfine or any of the other ingredients. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Speak to our pharmacist before starting if you have diabetes, poor circulation, a weakened immune system, or a nail problem caused by injury or psoriasis rather than infection — these need assessment rather than self-treatment.
You can still wear cosmetic nail varnish: apply it at least ten minutes after the Curanail has been applied, and remove it before your next weekly application.
Curanail and other antifungal treatments
Curanail treats the nail. Fungal nail infection very often travels alongside athlete’s foot, and treating one without the other invites reinfection. If the skin between your toes is itchy, flaky or cracked, treat it at the same time — our Lamisil 1% cream is the usual choice for the skin, and Daktarin powder helps keep shoes and socks from reinfecting the foot. You can see the full range on our antifungal treatments page.
Always read the label and the patient information leaflet before use.
Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.
Curanail: frequently asked questions
Does Curanail actually work?
Yes, for the infections it is licensed for — mild fungal nail infection affecting up to two nails, where the base of the nail is not involved. Amorolfine is a well-established antifungal and the lacquer is designed to keep releasing it into the nail for a full week. The catch is patience rather than potency: the damaged nail never repairs, so success looks like clear new nail growing in from the base, which takes six months on fingernails and nine to twelve on toenails. Most treatment “failures” are courses stopped too early.
How long does Curanail take to work on toenails?
Nine to twelve months, because that is how long a toenail takes to grow out completely. Fingernails are quicker at around six months. Review progress about every three months — you should see a band of healthy nail advancing from the cuticle. Keep applying until the affected nail has fully grown out.
How often do you apply Curanail?
Once a week. File the affected area of nail, clean it with one of the alcohol pads supplied, paint the lacquer over the whole nail and let it dry for about three minutes. Before each new application, wipe the old lacquer off with an alcohol pad.
Can I use Curanail on more than two nails?
No. Curanail is licensed for a maximum of two affected nails. If more than two nails are involved, the infection is more extensive than a topical lacquer is designed to handle and you should speak to a pharmacist or your GP — oral antifungal treatment may be more appropriate.
Can I wear nail varnish with Curanail?
Yes. Apply cosmetic nail varnish at least ten minutes after the Curanail, and remove it with an alcohol pad before your next weekly application so the lacquer goes onto a clean nail.
Is Curanail the same as Loceryl?
They contain the same active ingredient at the same strength — amorolfine 5% w/v — and work identically. Curanail and Loceryl are different brand names for amorolfine nail lacquer. Generic amorolfine 5% lacquers are also available.
Can I use Curanail when pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Amorolfine should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as there is limited experience of its use in these situations. Fungal nail infection is not urgent, so treatment can usually wait — speak to your pharmacist or midwife for advice.
Is Curanail suitable for children?
No. Curanail is not recommended for anyone under 18, as there is not enough clinical experience in this age group. A child with a suspected fungal nail infection should be seen by their GP, as nail changes in children often have another cause.
Why has my nail not changed after three months?
Because the already-damaged part of the nail cannot recover — it has to grow out and be replaced. At three months you are looking for clear nail at the base, not improvement in the discoloured area. If there is no healthy new growth at all after three months, or the nail is getting worse, stop and speak to our pharmacist for reassessment.
Do I need to treat athlete’s foot at the same time?
If you have it, yes. Fungal nail infection and athlete’s foot are usually caused by the same organisms, and leaving the skin untreated is a common route to reinfecting the nail. Treat the skin alongside the nail, and wash socks and towels hot.
