Fully open pathways can be painlessly scized (cut) through the stratum corneum of the skin or through the nail. Microconduits, 300-500 microns in diameter, are produced within seconds and without sensation. These pathways can be used to deliver drugs across the skin (proof-of-concept in vivo human experiments have shown full anaesthesia occurs within 3 minutes through microconduits compared with 1+ hours through intact stratum corneum). Such microconduits also permit access for subdermal analyte extraction (including blood for glucose testing). In addition, they reduce the skin electrical impedance to less than 1000 ohms for biopotential measurements. In nails, microconduits quickly reduce the painful pressure of subungual hematoma (black toe) and could serve as a prophylactic to prevent such pressure build-up in runner's nails. Also, microconduits provide access to the nail bed for topical treatment. Clinical trials are underway to test the efficacy of delivering a fungicide to treat onychomycosis.