Griseofulvin works in a fascinating way that's quite different from antibiotics that fight bacteria. This antifungal medication specifically targets the fungi that cause infections of the skin, hair, and nails - called dermatophytes. Think of these fungi like tiny invaders that feed on keratin, the protein that makes up your child's hair, skin, and nails. Griseofulvin acts like a molecular 'stop sign' that prevents these fungi from multiplying. When the fungus tries to divide and spread, griseofulvin interferes with its internal machinery, specifically the tiny tubes (called microtubules) that the fungus needs to separate its genetic material during cell division. Without working microtubules, the fungus gets stuck and can't reproduce. What makes griseofulvin special is that it doesn't just float around in the bloodstream - it specifically concentrates in the areas where these fungi like to grow: the skin, hair, and nails. As your child's body produces new skin cells, hair, and nails, the griseofulvin gets built right into these new tissues, making them resistant to fungal infection. This is why treatment takes so long - you're essentially waiting for all the infected tissue to grow out and be replaced by new, protected tissue. For a scalp infection, this means waiting for new hair to grow (about 1/4 inch per month), while nail infections take even longer because nails grow so slowly. The medicine only works on actively growing fungi, which is why it's called 'fungistatic' rather than 'fungicidal' - it stops growth rather than killing the fungus outright. This is also why it's so important to take the medicine with fatty food, as the fat helps the medicine get absorbed into the body where it can do its protective work.