Q. I was a ballet dancer from age 3 to 21 and danced pointe for the last ten years. My big toenails would always crack and fall off. (My sister doesn’t have pinky toenails any more for the same reason.)
It has been three years since I stopped dancing. I knew I had a bad fungus but I was too disgusted to look.
I’ve decided to stop ignoring the problem and get my big toenails removed. When the nails start to grow back, how can I keep the fungus away? I’d like a natural treatment to keep the nails stable once I am rid of the fungus.
A. Before you have your nails removed surgically, you might want to consider another option. Surgery can be painful and increase the risk for infection. A prescription urea ointment can dissolve fungus-infected nails leaving healthy tissue unscathed.
You can learn more about this in the Guide to Hair and Nail Care we are sending you. It also contains many home remedies such as cornmeal or vinegar foot soaks, tea tree oil or Vicks for preventing or treating nail fungus.
