The present invention provides the use of surface active proteins, especially class I and class II hydrophobins, in topically applied pharmaceutical formulations. The invention is particularly directed to topically applied pharmaceutical products for enhancing the penetration to achieve a transungual delivery of a prophylactically and/or therapeutically effective amount of an active ingredient (drug) to a patient (including animals and humans) into and/or through a nail, of the animal or human body, in order to treat one or more of a variety of diseases or disorders. Related embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.