The Downside of Salon Pedicures: Understand Your Risks

Modern salons are beautifully designed. With custom lighting, mirrors and elegant decor, it’s easy to forget about the problems of the world and about safeguarding your health.
 
Salon pedicures can create the risk of fungal or viral infection in a number of ways. Every salon has thousands of clients and a multitude of ways for viruses and fungi to spread. Each year, thousands of people visit a foot specialist to treat infections contracted while getting a pedicure.

 
Beware of the bubbles
 
Experts advise that you shouldn’t allow your pedicurist to turn on the bubbles in the foot bath. The jets can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Activating the jets spreads the bacteria and fungi throughout the water, coating your skin and invading pores, cuts or scrapes.
 
Find a salon that uses pipeless foot baths or individual foot bath liners that are replaced between clients. These practices are more effective at preventing fungal or viral infections. Foot baths that use shared piping can carry bacteria and fungi from other clients while the bubbles soften skin and open pores.
 
Sterile tools are a must
 
While it may seem impolite to ask about a salon’s sterilization process, your health is at stake. Don’t hesitate to ask about your salon’s procedures. Metal tools must be sterilized between each client. You should find evidence of safe practices as you look around the salon. Metal tools may be soaking in a disinfectant. This disinfectant kills most bacteria that can lead to foot infection.
 
Some salons use UV lights to sanitize metal tools between clients. This UV sanitization process, if done properly, requires 6 hours to sterilize the tools for use with the next client, and it requires additional soaking and cleaning procedures. If a salon is only treating metal tools with UV for a few minutes between clients, use those pretty feet to run elsewhere. Tools not properly sterilized can transfer viruses, fungi and bacteria from old clients to new.
 
Wood and non-metal tools can’t be reused
 
While metal tools can be sterilized, non-metal tools are for one client only. Because they are more porous and absorbent, non-metal and wood tools can’t be reused for other clients. These tools can’t be effectively sterilized, and they create an ongoing risk of infection. Some salons provide clients with a set of non-metal tools for their exclusive use. 
 
Just shaved your legs? Wait on that pedicure

Shaving your legs, even if there are no visible nicks or cuts, causes scraped skin that may not be visible to the eye. These scrapes can be a gateway for bacteria, leading to infection. Wait a few days for the top layers of skin to heal.
 
Open cuts and sores invite infection
 
Open cuts or sores, or even those nearly healed, open a wide pathway for bacteria and fungi to create infection. As part of your pedicure, your pedicurist trims your cuticles. If the lower skin layers are broken, this also creates a risk of infection. If your pedicurist accidentally cuts you while trimming your cuticles, think about your health and consider rescheduling the pedicure.
 
Visit your foot specialist

Health-threatening infections due to various beauty treatments are more common than you might think and can lead to serious illness. Contact your foot specialist if you think you may have become infected during your last pedicure. As with most health issues, early treatment can often prevent a small foot health issue from becoming a larger problem.