Going for a pedicure should be a relaxing and luxurious experience. In order to make your experience a pleasant one, it is imperative to find a salon that is clean, hygienic and safe. If you choose a salon without first doing your research on its health and safety practices, you run the risk of contracting a serious infection. Luckily there are a number of ways to detect whether or not your nail salon is safe and some useful safety measures you can take to ensure your feet stay pretty and healthy, all summer long.
1. Make sure that salon employees thoroughly drain, sanitize and rinse the footbaths between customers to prevent the spread of bacterial and fungal infections. If you have any concerns, skip the foot bath and opt for a polish application only.
2. 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.
3. Consider bringing your own instruments to the salon, specifically Instruments such as pumice stones which are used often and can not be easily autoclaved.
4. Make sure that nails are not trimmed too short and are clipped straight across to prevent painful ingrown toenails.
5. Don’t shave your legs the day you get a pedicure. Shaving can leave micro-tears in your skin, making you more susceptible to infections.
6. Don’t get your calluses shaved at a salon. If you have thick calluses, your feet should be assessed by a Chiropodist or Podiatrist who can treat you appropriately.
7. If you’ve recently gotten a pedicure, keep an eye out for common foot conditions such as ingrown toenail (painful, red or swollen toe), nail fungus (thickening of the nail, often with a change of colour to yellow or black) or other signs of infection (redness and swelling of the infection site, leg or foot).
8. Be extra cautious if you have diabetes. Diabetic patients often suffer from neuropathy, which means they may not feel an injury, which can then progress to a more serious infection without them being aware.
9. Any nail concerns such as ingrown toenails or any foot condition resulting from a pedicure should be addressed by a Chiropodist or a Podiatrist.
10. Try at-home pedicures whenever possible. After showering, exfoliate rough spots with a pumice stone or foot file and slather on a thick moisturizer.
