Also: Common symptoms of nail infections Do's and don'ts of good good foot care Ask Dr. Tedd Mitchell a health question

Oh, the toe!

Make a few simple changes and you can reduce your risk of toenail infections.

With summer just around the corner, men and women alike soon will be breaking out their sandals. However, many are embarrassed to wear sandals because of thick, disfigured and yellow toenails. These unsightly changes occur because of fungal infections in the nail; the medical term for this condition is onychomycosis.

Fungal nail infections can occur in the fingernails, but the toenails are more commonly affected. One reason why: Toenails grow more slowly than fingernails, giving a fungus more time to take root. Their slow growth also means that when toenails become infected, they take longer to clear up.

The vast majority of infections are caused by a fungus known as a dermatophyte, which lives in the tissue in and around the toenails. Rather than work its way into deeper layers of the skin, this fungus thrives in the nails and spreads through shared toenail clippers or other pedicure tools. That's why some people who get pedicures at nail salons end up with fungal infections.

So, how do you know if you are predisposed to fungal nail infections? For starters, people who are susceptible to other fungal infections, such as athlete's foot or jock itch, are at higher risk. Diabetics or those with conditions that suppress the immune system also tend to get fungal nail infections.

To determine whether you have a fungal nail infection, remember the word YUCK (see sidebar, above). If you have any of those symptoms, consider treatment at home. Over-the-counter anti-fungal creams used for athlete's foot can be applied to the affected nails. Also, lots of home remedies have been used with varying degrees of success, including vitamin E oil, tea tree oil and even Vicks VapoRub.

Unfortunately, because fungal infections are difficult to eradicate, such topical therapies fall short of wiping them out. If you have a milder case, you may be able to take care of it yourself, but if you have a more serious infection (multiple or significantly disfigured toenails), you'll likely need prescription medication.

After treating a fungal nail infection, it's a good idea to change your habits to reduce your risk of getting another infection (see sidebar, right).

And if chronic nail infections continue to plague you, visit your doctor to determine whether an underlying health problem is to blame. Doing so may not only benefit your health, but it also may help you improve your toenails' appearance this summer.

Contributing editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is medical director of the Wellness Program at the renowned Cooper Clinic in Dallas.

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Do's and don'ts of good foot care

Do keep your feet clean and dry. Thoroughly clean and scrub your feet when you bathe, and afterward, dry them really well. Fungal organisms love moisture, so depriving them of this makes it more difficult for them to thrive.

Do change your socks. Wear cotton socks, which absorb moisture, and change them as needed to keep your feet dry.

Do let your feet "air out" as often as possible. Avoid enclosed shoes, and whenever possible, wear sandals or footwear that allow the feet to breathe.

Don't share foot gear. This includes socks, shoes or pedicure instruments.

Don't walk barefoot in public areas. Locker rooms, showers and pools tend to be breeding grounds for the fungi that cause toenail infections.

Don't damage your nails. Getting overly aggressive with trimming your nails and traumatizing the area gives fungi a portal of entry to the tissue.

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