Victory over agony of the feet

They're not as bad as coffin nails, but fungus nails can be ugly. Onychomycosis is the medical term for this yellow, chipped, twisted condition that crops up more on feet than fingers. That's because the fungus thrives in warm, moist areas like your sock- and shoe-covered toes.

Toenail fungus can make you feel too embarrassed to go barefoot. But that's about as serious as it gets. Still, you may want to jump feet first into spring -- and it takes about six weeks for a "cure" to show. So consider these steps:

1. Keep nails dry with absorbent socks. And don't walk barefoot unless the floor is clean enough to lick. In dorms, gyms and hotel rooms bring along bleach or a disinfectant to clean showers and avoid being (re)infected.

2. Keep your toenails short and trimmed straight across. It keeps them cleaner -- and helps them heal.

3. Try a topical antifungal medication, but they're only about 10 percent effective -- not a great track record. The most potent treatments are potentially toxic antifungal drugs taken by mouth. About 1 in 10,000 people have liver complications from these.

Because nail fungi rarely cause more than a superficial problem, we suggest if your nails aren't keeping you from the love of your life, you should weigh the benefits of taking an antifungal drug with potential side effects. Whatever you decide, when the weather's right, put on your sandals and head outdoors to enjoy the health benefits of a good spring frolic.