Ask Lucy

June 13, 2019

There’s the rub

Dear Lucy: Is it safe to use Vicks VapoRub daily for many months to try and cure a toenail fungus? I’ve seen lots of lay literature talking about this as a home remedy for toenail fungus; however, I could only find one scientific article. This article didn’t mention doing bloodwork or otherwise confirming the safety of the product when used in this off-label fashion, and it also was not a blinded, controlled study. And how about the safety of other home remedies, such as soaking feet in vinegar or Listerine daily or twice daily for 10–30 minutes? —Vic

May 28, 2019

Oh, deer [fly]

Dear Lucy: I’m looking forward to summer, but I’m not looking forward to the deer flies swarming me on my morning walks! I’m wondering if they can transmit West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, or any other disease? Those deer flies certainly bite, and I’ve killed a few that have obviously had a blood meal. —Once Bitten

May 14, 2019

Live long and perspire?

Dear Lucy: I’ve heard that aluminum deposits have been found in the brains of people who have died of Alzheimer's disease. Will using underarm deodorants or antiperspirants with aluminum compounds cause aluminum to enter the body? Also, will wearing pierced earrings made of silver introduce silver into the body? —Heavy Metal

May 2, 2019

Rash decision?

Dear Lucy: I have been reading with interest the current news about measles outbreaks and note that many of us born between 1957 and 1989 may no longer be protected. Is MIT going to roll out an MMR booster for those of us who’ve only had one dose and are otherwise healthy enough to be vaccinated? —Spotty Immunity

April 25, 2019

Skin in the game

Dear Lucy: I wonder if circumcised men feel less good than uncircumcised during sex. —Circumcurious

April 2, 2019

Condom conundrum

Dear Lucy: The sign on the latex-free condoms provided by Community Wellness say that if you don’t need them, the other condoms are a better choice. Is there something about latex-free condoms that makes them less effective/good than other condoms, or is this just to preserve them for those who need them?‬ —Just Curious

March 22, 2019

Like “Groundhog Day”—but with hiccups

Dear Lucy: I am an 18-year-old female who has a history of asthma. So—and this may sound crazy—I have had this super weird case of the hiccups for the past seven months or so, and they don’t go away. Every day since about September, I have hiccupped more than once; and even before then, I still got hiccups, just not as frequently. Sometimes, I seem to hiccup every hour at the same time or, just about every five minutes, like a clock. I did some online research to see what this may mean, but pretty much all my search results ended with alcohol addiction or cancer. I don’t drink, and I kind of doubt I have cancer. Do you have any ideas about what it might be? —Déjà vu All Over Again

March 1, 2019

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

Dear Lucy: If I eat only certain kinds of fruits every day, is that considered healthy or not? For example, if I eat only oranges, kiwis, and pomegranates daily is that okay, or do I need a greater variety? —Fruit Loopy

February 14, 2019

Wash, rinse, repeat?

Dear Lucy: I know how to use a condom and properly remove it after use, but what should I do after that? ‪The surrounding area (the part of my penis that wasn’t covered by the condom) is usually covered with vaginal fluid. If I rinse with water, these fluids may contact the rest of my penis. I don’t know much about STI transmission, so perhaps this is an unfounded worry. But would there be any benefit to an additional action such as patting dry with a towel? —Very Careful Guy‬

Illustration of a television with text displayed on the screen: 'Mythsmashers: Do you need vitamin D?'

January 23, 2019

D-bunked?

Dear Lucy: I’m a healthy 40-year old male. After my doctor tested my vitamin D levels a few years ago, he insisted that I begin taking vitamin D supplements, which I did. At my check-up last year, my level had climbed from 25.3 to 54.7 nanograms per milliliter, which the doctor pronounced satisfactory, telling me to continue with the supplements...

Ask Lucy

There’s the rub

Oh, deer [fly]

Live long and perspire?

Rash decision?

Skin in the game

Condom conundrum

Like “Groundhog Day”—but with hiccups

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

Wash, rinse, repeat?

D-bunked?

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Lucy, MIT Medical’s intrepid health columnist, answers the questions you can’t ask anyone else.

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Lucy, MIT Medical’s intrepid health columnist, answers the questions you can’t ask anyone else.

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