Anyone who has had athlete's foot knows the symptoms are hard to ignore -- unsightly rash and horrible itch. When seeking relief, most people start with a store bought anti-fungal cream which will often successfully alleviate their symptoms. Occasionally, these OTC medications for athlete's foot don't relieve symptoms, and this can occur for a few reasons. Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can cause a rash that has similar features as eczema or other types of dermatitis, none of which respond to anti-fungal medications. Another possible reason why a foot rash didn't clear with OTC anti-fungal medicines is that the rash may be caused by a bacteria or fungus that requires a prescription-strength medication. Since many causes of foot rash do have similar features, a lab test such as a KOH test, may be necessary to determine if a fungus is to blame.
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Recently, the California EPA randomly tested 25 nail polish brands for toxic chemicals and what they found was surprising. Almost all of the brands in the sampling--which claimed to be free of three infamous toxins--tested positive for one or more of the three toxins, with some having dangerously high levels. The three toxins, referred to as the "Toxic Trio", are formaldehyde, DBP (dibuyl phthalate), and toluene. These ingredients have been voluntarily phased-out of certain brands of nail products due to rising concern over their potential health effects, especially for salon technicians, pregnant women, and children. Possible health threats include an increased risk of cancer, birth defects, asthma, and damage to the nervous system. The good news is that one of the more popular and widely used brands of nail polish, OPI, tested negative for the Toxic Trio. Photo (c) Getty Images.