Blackened nails, oozing blisters, and flaking skin. No, this isn’t the zombie apocalypse.
It’s the nail salon! (Cue the background horror movie montage.)
If you’ve ever had a mani-pedi, you know that they use sharp, rough tools to get down and dirty on your feet. And that’s a good thing to take off callouses and create the summer nail designs of your dreams.
But these tools can carry diseases and infectious bacteria if they aren’t cleaned the right way.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 4 nasty things you can pick up at the fingernail salon. And what you should do to avoid them!
1. Toenail Fungus
You don’t have to visit the nail salon to get toenail fungus. Think about your strange uncle George and his thick, yellow toenails. He probably never had a pedicure.
But toenail fungus is one of the most common pedicure infections. Although you can get fungal infections in your fingernails, they’re more common in your feet. That’s because your toes live inside your socks and shoes, creating the perfect warm, moist environment for fungal growth.
The worst part about nail infections is that they’re super contagious. Which means that you can get one from almost any part of the pedicure process.
Make sure that your nail salon sanitizes all of the nail clippers and uses clean emery boards for every customer. And visit www.mycleannails.com to learn more about how to keep your nails fungus free.
2. Warts
Warts are caused by human papillomavirus or HPV. You may have heard of HPV as a sexually transmitted virus that’s the primary cause of cervical cancer. But there are actually many types of HPV and they all do different things.
When certain HPV strains enter your skin through tiny cuts, they can develop into warts. Plantar warts are the most common because they target your feet. Although you can get warts on your hands too.
Just touching a wart may spread it to other areas of the body. And that includes walking barefoot in places like the pool or public showers.
Avoid warts at the nail salon by only using a salon that thoroughly sanitizes their pedicure baths after every use.
3. Athlete’s Foot
“I’m not an athlete! I don’t have to worry about athlete’s foot!”
Wrong! Your athletic abilities have nothing to do with contracting athlete’s foot.
This fungal infection attacks your skin, making it red, itchy, and flaky. And like the rest of the suspects on our list, it’s highly contagious.
Athlete’s foot loves moist, warm environments. And the pedicure baths are the perfect place for it to hang out. A light cleaning by the salon staff won’t get rid of this fungus.
Make sure your fingernail salon does a thorough, deep cleaning of the entire bath system before you stick your feet in there.
4. Staph Infection
Staphylococcus is a bacteria that lives in our bodies already. It’s normally not a problem, but if it gets out of hand, it can spell bad news for your health.
It’s common for staph infections to begin in wounds. And if left untreated, they can spread to other parts of the body, like the bloodstream. That’s when it’s the most dangerous.
If you have any type of wound or cut on your feet or legs, skip the pedicure until it’s healed. Even the cleanest nail salons might not be able to prevent a staph infection if you have an open wound.
Beware of an Unsanitary Fingernail Salon
There are some things you can do at the fingernail salon to ensure you don’t come away with one of these nasty bugs.
First, keep your eyes open.
How clean is the salon? Are the workers dressed neatly and do they change their gloves between each customer?
Then ask the manager how they use and clean their footbaths. Pipeless footbaths are always better because bacteria hide in pipes. And ask about how they sterilize equipment after use.
If you have any concerns about their sanitary procedures, move on to the next salon. It’s not worth losing a nail… or your life because of an infection.
Looking for a way to pamper yourself other than a pedicure? Read this to learn about the many positive benefits of regular massages.
