Walking barefoot in the park with someone you love may sound romantic. But this bad habit is one way of getting dead nails!

You won't find dead nails in the news and rightly so. They're usually the least of man's many problems and they often don't get the attention they deserve. But dead nails are unsightly and embarrassing. This cosmetic defect is the result of a fungal infection called onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis or ringworm of the nail is the most common of inflammatory nail disorders. It can affect anyone but is usually found in the elderly.

"This problem is common in people whose hands are always wet. It causes discoloration of the nails and may limit a person's ability to use the hands," according to Dr. Ma. Elena Villacorta, a consultant at the Perpetual Help Medial Center in Manila and a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society.

"You can contract this infection in several ways including walking barefoot in public places or as a complication of athlete's foot or paronychia (the inflammation of the skin around the nail). The associated fungal infection of the foot or hand can be mild and produce no inflammation or it can be acute with blisters and painful swelling. Once the nails are involved, they may become thickened, detached, and shed or the nail may even be destroyed," said Dr. David Larson, editor-in-chief of the Mayo Family Health Book.

The usual victims of onychomycosis are those who have a low resistance to infection. These include diabetics, patients taking corticosteroids and other hormonal drugs, and those who work with their hands in water.

"The condition is hard to cure. Treatment is long - it may take from six months to a year - and the infection may recur. In some cases, the affected nail has to be removed - a process called nail evulsion," Villacorta explained.

To prevent onychomycosis, take care of your hands: minimize injury, wear gloves if necessary, and keep them dry.

If you already have onychomycosis, don't lose hope. A new product called Somasin AFS can help you regain beautiful nails. Somasin's special herbal formula strengthens the immune system and stops stubborn nail infections in just seven days. Visit http://www.somasin.com for more information.