Our toenails can serve as barometers of our health.

The American Podiatric Medical Association says that toenails can signal the onset of disease. For example, thick nails can indicate psoriasis. Nails that are rounded inward instead of outward can indicate that a person is anemic.

The best way to care for your toenails is to trim them regularly and keep them clean; wash them with soap and water and dry thoroughly with a towel.

Inspect them from time to time to make sure no nail extends beyond the tip of the toe, or has developed one of the conditions described above.

And if you're a pedicure fanatic, make sure the instruments are disinfected. Better yet, bring your own to the nail salon.