Personal hygiene is so important so is the nail care. Manicure and Pedicure makes a difference for selfcare but sometimes these steps are not enough for the nail’s health if once infected.
In a latest research, scientists have discovered the clue to treat the most common brittle nails fungus.
Researchers have identified using hydrogen sulfide H2S as a surprisingly effective tool for treating difficult nail infections as it penetrates nails more efficiently than other drugs .
The hydrogen sulfide H2S is a naturally occurring gas best known for its strong rotten egg odor, may offer a faster and gentler way to treat stubborn nail infections.
The H2S gas kills pathogens by disrupting their energy systems and the compound also works against fungi that resist standard antifungal treatments.
Nail infections are typically caused by fungi, yeast or mold attacks causing infections and turning nails become yellow,white or brown colored in thicken, brittle,or misshaped.
Though bacteria can occasionally be involved,these conditions are widespread, affecting an estimated 4-10% of people worldwide, with rates climbing to nearly 50% among adults aged 70 and older.
Oral medications usually take 2-4 months to show results and are generally effective, but they also pose risks for side effects, particularly in patients with other health conditions.
While topical treatments are considered safer, but they often require very long application periods, sometimes lasting years. Even then, they frequently fail to fully clear the infection or the infection returns.
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The major obstacle underlines that most medications struggle to pass through the dense structure of the nail, preventing them from reaching the fungi or bacteria living beneath it.
The researchers observed that even the best topical antifungal options achieve relatively low cure rates, underscoring the need for treatments that can reliably reach microbes deep within the nail.
The researchers at the University of Bath and King’s Collage London KCL concludes that this volcanic gas H2S could form the basis of a new therapy that works more quickly while avoiding many common side effects.
Dr. Albert Bolhuis of the University of Bath’s Department of Life Sciences said, “Thanks to its ability to efficiently reach the site of infection and its novel mode of action, we believe that a topically applied medicine containing hydrogen sulfide could become a highly effective new treatment for nail infections, which avoids the limitations of current therapies.”
“Our research lays the foundation for a compelling alternative to existing treatments, with the potential to improve outcomes for patients suffering from persistent and drug-resistant fungal nail infections,” Dr. Albert added.
The study was originally published in Scientific Reports in the journal Antimicrobial effects and mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide against nail pathogens, reports Science Daily.
