Q & A Funky feet

Girls' Life, June, 2001

Don't flip out over foot fungus...

I have fungus on my toenails, and I don't want anyone to see my feet. How can I get rid of it?

Yikes! "You can get toenail fungus from gym floors, showers, wet shoes, athlete's foot or those socks they give you at shoe stores," says podiatrist Dr. Joseph T. Garofalo. If your toenails are thick, brown or flaky, Dr. Garofalo says see a podiatrist because over-the-counter creams just aren't effective. Podiatrists can prescribe Lamisil, an oral med with few side effects. You go off the stuff after three months, but you have to wait a few more for a new non-fungus-infested nail to grow. Meantime? Sport fire engine red nail polish!

My mom tells me it's unhealthy to hang out in my soggy bathing suit after swimming. Is she right?

Be wary of yeast infections--most likely why Mom's freaking. Dr. Paula J. Adams Hillard, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, says, "There's never been a research trial, which would involve taking 50 girls who don't hang out in wet bathing suits and comparing them to 50 who do. However, most gynecologists believe a warm, moist environment, like the lining of a wet suit, is ideal for growing a yeast infection." Pack cotton undies and dry clothes for when you're done swimming, just to be safe.

I have a mild stuttering problem, and it really bothers me. I don't want everyone I meet this summer to think of me as Stuttering Girl. What can I do about it?

Did you know Marilyn Monroe was a stutterer? Tons of well-respected and accomplished people, like Bruce Willis and James Earl Jones, have conquered stuttering. Though stuttering can be frustrating, try not to shake in your Dr. Scholl's when speaking in front of new friends. Muscles tense with fear, making the problem much worse. "Seek out a speech pathologist who specializes in stuttering--someone who's understanding and willing to teach you some helpful strategies," says Dr. Peter Ramig, professor of speech and language pathology at University of Colorado in Boulder. "With the help of a therapist, you can become more in control and stutter substantially less. It's more about managing the problem." Nonchalantly, let your new friends know you stutter and are getting help. Check out www.stutteringhelp.org for information on support groups, videos and manuals especially for teens.

I get these gross bumps along my bikini line every time I shave there. What's the deal?

For smoooooooth shavin' this summer season, dermatologist Dr. Janee Steinberg, board medical director of Advanced Cosmetic Laser Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., offers some simple suggestions. Cover the area with water and coat with a generous layer of lathered shaving cream--try a cream specifically for the bikini line. Don't go over the same area more than once with your razor, always use a fresh blade, and only shave against the hair growth. Dr. Steinberg recommends Tend Skin (available at drug stores) between shaves to keep skin soft and smooth.