Rotten Egg Smell Could Hold Key to Faster, More Effective Nail Infection Treatment
Nail infections, affecting an estimated 4-10% of the global population and nearly half of adults over 70, are notoriously challenging to treat. Current options – oral medications and topical creams – often fall short. Oral drugs can have significant side effects, while topical treatments struggle to penetrate the nail and frequently require years of request with limited success.
Now, researchers at the University of Bath and King’s College London (KCL) are exploring a surprising potential solution: hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the gas responsible for the characteristic rotten egg smell.published in Scientific Reports, their research reveals that H2S can effectively penetrate the nail plate and boasts powerful antimicrobial properties, even against fungi resistant to common treatments.
The team discovered that H2S disrupts microbial energy production, causing irreversible damage and ultimately killing the fungi causing the infection. Crucially, the gas appears to reach the infection site far more efficiently than existing topical drugs.
“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,” explains Dr. albert Bolhuis of the University of Bath’s Department of Life Sciences. “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.”
While H2S is known for its odor and potential toxicity, researchers emphasize that the concentrations required for treatment are expected to be safe and can be formulated to minimize any unpleasant smell.
The research is currently limited to laboratory studies (in vitro), but the team is optimistic. professor Stuart Jones, Director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research at KCL, said: “We are looking forward to translating these findings into an innovative topical product that can treat nail infection.” They hope to develop a patient-ready topical treatment within the next five years, offering a faster and gentler solution for this widespread and frustrating condition.
