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!!

What Gary said was spot on - I garden every day for clients and even at home I always even on the nastiest hot days wear long jeans or blue uniform pants, large tee shirts, sturdy sneakers or boots and rubber coated gloves because some of these plants (junipers, poison ivy, barberries, spurge as common examples I am around) and even the granules of dirt can really do a number on you - from itchy scratches to rashes - some minor and a couple in the past not so minor. I've never had a poison ivy rash as I'm always on the lookout for it but I did get a horrible rash from Cow Parsnip (a woodland native) I was deadheading in an all native garden. It was just like a poison ivy rash after the direct sun light activated the irritant - it took almost a month to go away. I have Dictamus - a buy from last year for a ridiculous price but I have been very careful around it. It has a lemony scent just don't get to close to touch it. It's one of those old timey hard to find plants like Peonies but my thinking is its' toxicity is what made it fall out of favor. But at least it doesn't spread around like the poison ivy.

I love my Sonicare toothbrush. I used my first one for eight years before the battery quit charging. I hated to spend the money for a second one, but after using a regular toothbrush for a couple of weeks, I broke down and bought a second Sonicare. My teeth just didn't feel clean brushing with a manual toothbrush. Sonicare toothbrushes are definitely worth every cent they cost for keeping your gums and teeth in great condition. I bought my daughter a Sonicare through my dentist for $44 and am planning to get my brother one for Christmas this year. I've tried to persuade him to buy one, but since he hasn't, he'll get one as a gift. :)

I'm 74 and have been exercising 3 times weekly now for 11 years. I really concentrate on my legs as they need to work for me when my poor old damaged lungs can't. I could still wear shorts in the summer until about 5 years ago when gravity finally got my knees. It was inevitable. I have very strong muscles in my legs but it's the skin, not the muscles. Yes, I have been a sun worshiper for many years. It doesn't help my skin but tanned saggy skin looks SO much better when it's tanned. At 60, you don't yet have the old bruised, scared legs that will appear over the next 10 years. Out skin on our calves thins and a small bump can result in a deep cut. My lower legs look like someone has been beating them with a stick! But when they're tan, they look much better and the scars and bruises don't show as much. It is very hard to age when one is vain. One must do the best one can and accept the rest with humility.