Dr. Phyllis Ritchie: There are options for treating yellow ...

Dr. Phyllis Ritchie: There are options for treating yellow toenails Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 9:21 AM     Updated: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 9:25 AM Q: With summertime here, what can I do about my yellow toenails? Usually a health care provider can look at the toenails and make a diagnosis, but sometimes a culture is required. Q: I enjoy getting pedicures but avoid them because my friend got a horrible skin infection one time. The usual culprit is the spa pedicure. It is extremely difficult to clean the filters associated with the spa pedicure bath, and bacteria get trapped within the plumbing apparatus. So when one is enjoying the swirling bath of the spa pedicure, in reality they are immersing their feet and legs in warm, bacteria-infested water. Women who shave their legs before a spa pedicure are more prone to infection. The most worrisome bacteria acquired from the spa pedicure are resistant staphylococcus and a bacterium called mycobacterium fortuitum. The latter is the bacteria responsible for major outbreaks in spa pedicure shops. My advice is to avoid the spa pedicures and stick to the pedicures that don't swirl and have simple tubs.