Most nail salons see a steady parade of business. Nails get cut and filed, feet soak in tubs, cuticles get pushed back and trimmed, calluses get buffed. And while the majority of nail salon visits won’t send you on your way with anything other than an excellent manicure and pedicure, customers — and salon workers — are at risk of spreading disease.
So what are the risks of a pampering footbath? We’ve got five nasty bugs to look out for.
1 Athlete’s Foot
Unfortunately, the pedicure baths of a salon provide a breeding ground. Let’s face it: Lots of feet get put into that tub, and not all of those feet are clean. If a spa doesn’t regularly clean its foot tubs between each client, the odds of leaving the spa with a fungal infection you didn’t walk in with increase. Also, fungus isn’t so easily removed from the surfaces it grows on, so a light cleaning may not rid a tub of its presence. Frequent use of an anti-fungal cleaning agent is the best way to prevent spa clients from getting athlete’s foot from a foot tub. On the other hand, if your feet are itching like crazy and you haven’t changed your socks in weeks, you should steer clear of spas or any activity that could potentially spread the fungus to others. Nails salon need buy best pedicure chair and always sanitary pedicure chair.
2 Warts
Warts are caused by a contagious virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many different strains of the virus (such as the type that can cause cervical cancer), but only a few different kinds spur the overproduction of skin cells that results in warts.
Warts can be spread if a salon worker uses the same pumice stone for different clients. Most salons offer new pumice stones, and you can always bring your own to lower the risk of getting warts. You should also frequent salons where employees wear plastic gloves that they change between appointments.
3 Swine Flu
HPV isn’t the only virus you can pick up at the spa. The H1N1 virus (more commonly — and misleadingly — known as the swine flu) makes an appearance as well.
So how can you avoid it? Ideally, salon workers wear protective disposable gloves for each client and change and gloves (with a hand washing for good measure) between appointments. All instruments should be treated with chemical germicides.
4 MRSA
If you’ve paid attention to the news in recent years, you’ve likely noticed an uptick in stories about a type of staph infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA infections can lead to severe scarring, amputation and even death — and it’s resistant to antibiotics.
MRSA can be spread through the sharing of unsanitized nail files or other nail implements. These implements should be soaked in a disinfecting solution for a minimum of 10 minutes, then treated with a sterilizing agent. Foot baths should be vigorously cleaned and sanitized between clients.
5 Mycobacterium fortuitum
This nasty bug might give you a good reason not to shave your legs. You can get Mycobacterium fortuitum from foot baths — and the risk is greatly increased when a soak is preceded by leg shaving.
To avoid getting the bug, pay attention to any regional reports of M. fortuitum outbreaks. Take your own nail tools to the salon for them to use during your appointment. And don’t be afraid to ask the salon owner about the establishment’s cleaning procedures. After all, you want to treat yourself, but not to a bug like M. fortuitum.
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