Here is the problem: There are thousands (and more unknown)types of fungi in the environment. They all cause different symptoms and can require different treatment protocol. The key to treatment is finding out the particular strain from which you are suffering. I have been dealing with kerion lesions all over my body for the last few months and I'm very quickly discovering that doctors and vets are CLUELESS in Mycology. They learn the very basics in med school and don't further their education. You have to be proactive with your health and do the research yourself. There are fungi out there that are zoophilic as well and you can pass infection between your pets and vice versa. You really have to see a doctor, preferrably a dermatologist and ask for a fungal culture. They will take a scraping of your skin, a biopsy, or hair samples and send it off to a lab to culture. There it will grow in a dish and go from there. Some fungi grow relatively quickly, others, it may take weeks for results. I just can't believe that the medical community isn't better educated. I went to the ER because I don't have insurance. I told the doctor about my symptoms, ranging from fatigue, hair and skin problems, all the way to arthritic joints. I also mentioned my 3 dogs have the same type lesions. I told him I thought I might have a systemic fungal infection and his response was "First of all, I'm not a vet, so what your dogs have is of no concern" and "Systemic fungus won't present this way". STUPID!! So...what does he do? Takes a skin scraping, goes and looks at it under the microscope and says to me that he didn't see anything crawling but he did see something that looked like it had 'branches'. Ummmmm, HELLO?!! Branches=Hyphae=FUNGUS!! So he prescribes LAMISIL and Bactrim (antibiotic). Well, if he knew anything about fungi, he would have known that antibiotic are the worst treatment for fungi. They kill bacteria and then the fungi have all the room in the world to grow. Making your infection even worse. Don't let a fungal infection spread, they can be very dangerous and I believe are the source of a lot of major illness. The post above me mentions the light and dark spots and not being able to get rid of them. I'm not a doctor but it sounds like Tinea Versicolor, which is a non-invasive fungus that can be treated with over the counter preparations with active ingredients such as clotrimazole or miconazole. You have to treat this for a long time and may never completely kick it. Don't start and stop any treatment because it can become resistant and stronger and your condition may get worse. Probiotics are readily available at any health food store or pharmacy. There are food products out there with them in it also. Not just any yogurt will suffice. It has to have live cultures in it and if it doesn't say that, it doesn't. I think Activia is a popular brand that has lactobacillus acidophillus in it. Just do your own research and take your findings to your MD. Hopefully, he/she is open to learning and listens. If not, seek out another doctor that is!!

1) you can bleach stains out of your concrete driveway. 2) you can wash your hair to lighten it. 2) you can remove hard water stains and scum from your bath tub. 4) it make an excellent grout cleaner. 5) you can polish many metals with it. 6) It helps for washing odor and bacteria from arm pits. 7) I helps with toenail fungus and Tinea pedis. 8) It can make the air smell good. 9) lower the ph of citrus plant feed mix for those with hard water, Spray the nasty dog next door that luges at you and throws saliva. GET IT IN THE EYES. It help to add some habanero sauce. Freshen up the garbage can. Brighten the whitewalls on you tires. Clean window. clean electrical contacts and switches to remove oxidation. These are about the only uses that lemons are good for. I can't imagine anyone foolish enough to actually EAT one of these nasty tasting fruits Steve This post was edited by poncirusguy on Tue, Apr 1, 14 at 15:38

Duane - You make some good points and it is nice to have a male weigh in. I think you represent a lot of guys who prefer to see women looking natural. My DH's reaction to my vibrant polish was, "Whoa! You have girl toes!" From what I've gleaned from the posts on this forum, more women here would prefer a good chef's knife to an expensive designer bag and spend more time making breads and jams than fussing with elaborate beauty regimes. I think this post got so many replies because it is timely - it's summer, meaning for most of us our toes are just coming out of hiding - and it's just fun to hear about what other women do. I wrote about my DD who finds it relaxing to give herself a weekly pedicure. Fact is, other than that, sunscreen and lip gloss are the only "makeup" she wears. I think many of us perform some of these beauty routines less to impress men, but as a little indulgence.

No. This is just me, and I admit, I am odd. I have a very bad right hand....scarred from two childhood accidents...bad 3rd degree burns that more or less melted my hand, so I have never done anything to attract attention to my hand. Oddly, many people who have known me for years and never noticed it. However, even if it wasn't like that, I wouldn't have a manicure. That is something I can do myself. Same for pedicure....if I want my toenails painted, I can do that. And the real reason is, I don't like people I don't know touching me. Oh, I can get a haircut....I have to do that....but I want in and out as quickly as possible. I don't care how they cut it, just let me get the hell out of that chair. Now, you'd never know that...watching me. I can control my aversion. I am polite and chatty....I can act normal....but it isn't something I enjoy. Having a massage by someone I am not close to, for example....would never happen.