Potential Dangers of Having Mani-Pedis in Nail Salons

While a professional pedicure can help you feel pampered and confident in summer sandals, there are health risks associated with nail trimming, cuticle clipping, and foot soaking. The dangers from dirty tools and unhygienic practices can put you at risk of developing foot fungus, ingrown toenails and other serious illnessess.

Risks of Undergoing Professional Manicures And Pedicures

#1 Infection

Nail technicians who reuse instruments without proper disinfection, do not perform proper hygiene place their clients at heightened risk for infection. Pathogenic agents can be transmitted across small breaks in the skin, or microtraumas, which are unnoticeable most of the time.

• Nail fold infection. Nail technicians can be rough on your nails during a manicure and pedicure through nail clipping, cuticle cutting and nail filing. The most common infection caused by these cuts to your skin is paronychia, which is a bacterial infection of the hard skin surrounding your nail. [mfn] https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001444.htm [/mfn]
• Follicular infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria, which is bacteria typically found in water, and are mostly associated with pedicure footbaths. If the mycobacteria enter the bloodstream through a skin wound, the follicles can become infected.

Pathogens that have been found or transmitted in nail salons include:

• Candida albicans – a fungus that causes skin infections
• Staphylococcus aureus – a bacteria that causes skin infections
• Staphylococcus epidermidis – a bacteria that causes skin infections
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – or MRSA, a potentially lethal strain of Staphylococcus aureus
• Rapidly growing mycobacterial infections – bacteria that cause soft and skin tissue infections as well as systemic infection
• Herpes
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV

If you’ve recently gotten a pedicure, monitor for these common foot conditions which can be a sign of infection:

• Ingrown toenail – The toe will be painful, red and swollen.
• Nail fungus – The nail will thicken and change color usually yellow or black.
• Infection – Redness and swelling at the infection site, such as the leg or foot.

#2 Contact dermatitis

Acrylic nails, nail glue and nail polish can cause allergic contact dermatitis, a rash that appears after exposure to an allergen. Luckily, this can be easily avoided by being aware of products used at your salon and choosing an alternative to acrylic nails. [mfn] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9280695 [/mfn]

#3 Plantar Warts

Plantar wart, a wart occurring on the bottom of the foot or toes, is another skin condition that can be developed at nail salons. Like mycobacteria, plantar warts thrive in warm, moist environments and can be contracted through cuts in the skin. [mfn] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-warts/basics/causes/con-20025706 [/mfn]

#4 Cancer and Aging

Drying your nails under the UV light seems very common, yet the consequences can be severe. Although further research is needed, dermatologists’ main concern with UV light is the possibility to develop skin cancer [mfn] http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=711988#ref-dob80044-8 [/mfn] or tumors [mfn] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987777/ [/mfn]. Additionally, the areas of skin exposed to UV light is susceptible to aging. [mfn] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12208239 [/mfn]

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Possible Reasons for Developing These Complications

1. Tools that are not disinfected or sanitized.

Contaminated instruments are the number one cause of salon infections as they may contain molds, bacteria and viruses that come into contact with clients when instruments are shared. These communal or shared instruments are also dangerous to the manicurist should they have any open cuts or abrasions.

Solution?
– Bring and ask the technician to use your own surgical stainless steel instruments.
– Look for salons that uses an autoclave machine to sanitize their tools. This is usually distinguishable through the paper sanitation packets that the tools are packaged in.

2. General uncleanliness of the salon as a whole.

Look around the salon. Is the floor littered with used tissue and cotton, cut nails and bits of dead skin? Dirt, clutter, poor evacuation piping and air filtration, piles of scrub brushes, instruments, trays and linens left open all breeds germs, as well as the employees who don’t wash their hands between clients or salons that don’t ask clients to wash their hands. The overall cleanliness and tidiness of a salon speaks volumes about its hygiene standards.

3. Poor hygiene practices.

Don’t be ashamed to ask the staff how they clean their instruments and work areas. The presence of an autoclave that is used to sterilize clippers and other metal tools is a actually a good sign. Basically, some instruments should be soaked in a disinfecting solution for at least 10 minutes before being treated with a sterilizing agent. In addition, the pedicure basins should be vigorously cleaned and sanitized after every use.

Solution?
– Raise your concern and ask the staff or manager to use a fresh pair of gloves and a new mask before a technician attends to you to help minimize the transmission of both skin and respiratory infections.

4. Improper cleaning of foot baths.

Unfortunately, foot baths are difficult to sterilize, thus, making it a breeding ground for mycobacterium which may lead to the development of boils, warts, MRSA, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, HPV and swine flu virus. The bacteria causing all these issues love to thrive in a warm, wet environment.

Solution?
– Request a pipeless drainage system tub as bacteria breeds in pipes.
– Make sure all water is drained, walls are scrubbed and that the nail technician runs a cycle of disinfectant for 10 minutes between clients.

5. You nail technician may be too aggressive.

Doing a good job is one thing, but when a nail technician goes overboard with her cutting, filing, trimming, buffing and scrubbing, she risks breaking your skin and opening you up to a bacterial or fungal infection.

Solution?
– Speak up, if you feel that your technician is too harsh when filing your nails or scrubbing your skin, if you see her cutting or shaving off bits of dead skin that are not even there, or if she cuts your nails too close to the nail bed.
– Ask the technician to gently push back and remove only excess cuticle on sides instead of removing it from the base. Remember that cuticles are your friend. They protect your nail cells and if they’re damaged, you may end up having a permanently deformed nail.

6. Your technician may be careless and inattentive.

She should be 100% focused on the task at hand while she is attending to your nails. If she is chatting to you or someone else in the salon while she is cutting your nails, trimming your cuticles or shaving the calluses off the soles of your feet, there’s a high chance that she may commit a mistake and injure you by accident, or remove more skin than she needs to.

Solution?
– Don’t feel rude for telling her to pay attention on what she’s doing. This is her job after all, and she should be doing everything she can to ensure she provides a high quality service.

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Stay Healthy And Free From Health Hazards

Stay healthy at the salons by following these:

• Refrain from shaving your legs before a manicure or pedicure because shaving can increase the risk of infection. If you shave, you may nick yourself and your skin is your first line of defense for infection. [mfn] http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa012643#t=article [/mfn]
• Be sure salon employees thoroughly drain, sanitize and rinse the footbaths between customers. Bacteria or fungal infections can be introduced from soaking your feet in the water and even if the tub itself is disinfected, the potential for risk is still there – dead skin and bacteria can build up in the foot bath’s hard-to-clean water jets.
• Make sure that your technician has washed their hands before serving you. Additionally, make sure that your technician is wearing new latex gloves.
• Avoid letting your technician cut into your cuticles or cut your calluses with a sharp blade.

• Forget the footbath and opt for a polish change only. You can take care of the rest at home.
• Choose a reputable nail salon that is licensed to sterilize its instruments or a salon that uses brand new tools from a sealed package for each customer. Alternatively, you can also consider bringing your own tools to the salon.
• Ask your physician for a hepatitis B vaccination.
• If you have diabetes, which increases the risk of infection, avoid nail salons.

Do it yourself at home using these tips for best results:

• Keep your feet moisturized. After a shower, dry off most of the water on your feet and slather on a thick moisturizer.
• Exfoliate rough spots. If you have callouses from wearing high heels or open-toe shoes, use a pumice stone when your feet are wet or a pedicure foot file when your skin is dry.
• Don’t trim your nails too short and clip them straight across to prevent painful ingrown toenails.

Simple Ways To Maintain Stronger And Healthier Nails

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Who should not get a professional pedicure?

It is not recommended for diabetics to undergo a professional pedicure treatment due to their poor blood circulation.

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What should you do if you suspect an infection?

Consult your doctor or a podiatrist if you have developed an ingrown toenail or a fungus. Some cases of fungus can take 6 months to a year to improve with treatment. While an ingrown toenail can be trimmed by the doctor on an outpatient setting.

Have you ever had a bad experience at the nail salon? Tell us about it in the comments section.

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