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Price of Pedicure May Include Viral Infections

April 24 2005 Open season for exposed toes is right around the corner and hundreds of thousands of Americans will flock to spas for pedicures But is your favorite spa the healthiest environment for your feet and can you protect your toes from potential harm
Salons and spas featuring nail services are rapidly growing into a billion dollar industry In fact 24 percent of Americans use pedicures as part of their regular foot care regimen according to a March 2005 national consumer survey conducted by OurFootDoctorcom Because the cosmetics industry is not required to adhere to the same sterilization regulations for the tools they use as medical offices and hospitals physicians are seeing an increase in several transmissible diseases
Unfortunately many cosmetologists remain uneducated about the dangers of spreading disease and may unknowingly be jeopardizing the health of their clients said Dr Carolyn L Siegal attending physician at CedarsSinai and OurFootDoctorcom advisor
During a pedicure small breaks in the skin can occur When nail tools such as cuticle pushers or nippers are used on these breaks or on paper cuts and other open areas in the skin they can transfer blood andor bacteria from one customer to another if the tools are not properly sterilized between appointments The only way to fully eradicate tools from infectious organisms is through a process called autoclaving which involves treating them with intense heat and pressure Autoclaving uses sophisticated and expensive equipment and is often only found in medical environments
The medical community as a whole is treating more and more patients for skin nail and viral infections as a direct result of manicure and pedicure services said Dr Siegal However there are steps that can be taken to prevent an uncomfortable and potentially painful experience during and after a pedicure
Dr Siegal offers the following five considerations before putting your toes into another persons care
1 Inquire into exactly how the spa cleans its tools The preferred system is autoclaving over the typical ultraviolet light system Also be aware that Barbacide the blue liquid often used in salons to clean tools only disinfects and may not kill contagious hepatitis C or similar viruses
2 Consider carrying your own tools The best way to protect yourself is to purchase your own nail kit and carry it with you to appointments Dr Siegal has developed the Dr Siegal Savvy Nail Kit which is available at many upscale salons nationwide or directly through OurFootDoctorcom You can also use your nail kit at home between appointments for easy maintenance
3 Check out the spa and look for signs of cleanliness Are the work surfaces clean and dry Do the nail technicians wash their hands between clients Do the tubs use disposable liners Larger tubs can harbor bacteria in their filtration systems and should be avoided Also look for the correct association and government licenses These should be clearly posted
4 Inform your nail technician about any cuts medications or health conditions you have that may affect your treatment This is especially important if you are on blood thinning medications if you are diabetic or have a communicable disease
5 Pay attention during and after the service The service should never be painful during or after the treatment Monitor your toes and feet for discolorations sores or pain If you do experience something unusual with your nails or skin contact your physician or podiatrist
Dr Carolyn Siegal the creator of Dr Siegals Savvy Nail Kit is a successful Beverly Hills podiatrist and an advisor and frequent contributor to OurFootDoctorcom OurFootDoctorcom is a division of The OurHealth Network which provides reliable information about many common medical conditions and is a convenient source for affordable highquality healthcare products frequently not available to consumers in drug stores Since being founded in 1999 by Dr Paul Kasdan OurFootDoctorcom has reached out to more than 40 million Americans who suffer from foot ailments For more information visit httpwwwOurFootDoctorcom

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