Abstract: A method for treating or preventing one of a fungal infection of a nail and a condition of a skin surface excluding an oral cavity. The method includes the step of applying a composition to one of a nail surface adjacent to the infection of the nail and the skin surface having the condition. The composition comprises a plant-based bioactive and between about 0.2% to about 3.0% by weight of a metal chlorite salt. The composition does not contain a therapeutically effective amount of chlorine dioxide.