Last modified: Sunday, June 1, 2008 2:11 AM EDT Using a basin to wash feet instead of a large spa chair with a foot bath during a pedicure is one way to remove a possible source of toenail fungus and infection. While salons sanitize equipment, you can also bring your own to the appointment. (Photo illustration by Mark Stockwell) The perfect ten BY REBECCA KEISTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF The onset of summer weather brings lots of happy things - trips to the beach, long-awaited vacations and plenty of backyard cook-outs. And let's not forget the pinnacle of summertime fun. Sandals. So maybe the annual celebration of shoving cold-weather boots into storage and switching them for strappy heels and flip-flops isn't on world calendars. Still, to many- OK, to many women - it's one chore that isn't so much minded. With open toe pumps, wedges and chances to go barefoot on the sand come another summer tradition for the female crowd: Pedicures. A survey conducted for Microplane, a manufacturer of foot files and other feet-specific beauty tools, last December revealed that 41 percent of women regularly get pedicures as part of their personal grooming routine - a slightly larger number than who regularly get less expensive, and less time consuming, manicures. In that same survey, 25 percent of women reported worry about the hygiene of their salons. That fear can be summed up in one word: fungus. "I see a lot of patients, even compared to five years ago, who come in and say I got a nail fungus I picked it up at the salon," said Martin Harris, DPM, an Attleboro-based podiatrist. "My ability to say with 100 percent certainty that it is or is not from the salon is difficult. But certainly, it's possible." Harris said there aren't statistics available - because of difficulty in tracing the origin of a nail fungus - as to how many are contracted at nail salons, but they can be picked up anywhere and that includes spas where toes are buffed and polished. Nail fungus, more common on toes than on fingernails, happens, according to the Mayo Clinic, when fungi infect nails through tiny, sometimes invisible, cuts or through separations between nails and nail beds. Once you get one, it could spread deeper into your nail and cause it to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges. The Mayo Clinic also reports that the infections are persistent, can become painful and may cause permanent damage. They even can spread beyond your feet. Yuck. "If it becomes more deep-seeded, it's not likely it will grow out without some type of treatment," Harris said. And even those treatments - which can be costly and take a while to work - don't always do the trick. So the key would be prevention. Harris said that those who are more likely to develop an infection might have had recent trauma to their nail. "It could have been then that their resistance was down," he said. "Which basically is a reflection of their overall medical health. That could have come from a tight shoe, bumping it or a sport they are involved with." Here are some suggestions for keeping the fungi away. All the time Flaunt those sandals: To help ease the likelihood of picking up an infection, stay away from shoes and socks as much as possible. Fungi thrive in dark, warm and moist environments. Don't go barefoot: Keep something on your feet in damp public places, such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms. Skimp on the polish, even if you do it at home: Harris said that nail lacquers aren't healthy year-round. "If the nail already has some type of change, get the polish off immediately," he said. "In the summer, don't leave it on for four months at a time." At the salon Use common sense: Harris urges this is the most important thing in determining if a salon you're visiting is safe and clean. "If it appears they are using techniques that aren't standard, you need to recognize that and perhaps go elsewhere," he said. Bring your own polish: That way, Harris said, you know the polish brush hasn't touched any tootsies other than yours. Skimp on the shaving: Shaving your legs creates "tiny little cracks" in the skin, said Harris. "That can be a source of infection," he said. "I wouldn't do it the night before. But there's certainly no harm in doing it three or four days before." Skip the foot bath: Though it's a luxury, it's not necessary for the pedicure. And even in clean salons, the bath is one of those moist environments where fungi live. Ask to just have your feet washed. Bring your own tools: Salons are required to sanitize tools after every use, and most do. But bringing your own would ensure they haven't been used on any other customers. If you do get an infection, you can try some over the counter, topical antifungals. But Harris cautions that only works on superficial infections. "If you develop a fungus that is spreading, you should get medical care," he said. And remember, if you do get an infection, it's not necessarily the salon's fault. "I do want to remind readers that these salons have standards they have to abide by," Harris said. "And most of them do. A lot of the determination of where you're going to go should be based on your gut instinct and common sense."