Do’s and Don’ts of a Successful Salon Pedicure
In Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm’s eyes, a successful salon pedicure improves the look of your feet without causing any harm. Do pedicures ever end in failure? Well, yes. If you or your technician aren’t careful, you could easily end up with an infection.
Follow these do’s and don’ts when you go to the nail salon to avoid a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection in your feet:
DO go to a properly licensed salon. Read their website for evidence that their state license is up-to-date, or make sure there’s a current license displayed on the wall.
DO check out online reviews before you choose a salon, even if it’s properly certified. You’ll probably want to avoid salons whose reviews mention unprofessional or unclean practices.
DON’T shave your legs before you go. Don’t shave your toe hair, as some people are in the habit of doing. Shaving may create tiny nicks in your skin through which infectious organisms can enter. If you’ve already got a cut or scrape on your lower limbs unrelated to shaving, wait until it’s healed before you make an appointment at the nail salon.
DO instruct the technician not to trim your cuticles. Your cuticles protect your nails from infection. Cutting them is like opening the door to your nail roots and inviting bacteria inside. If desired, the technician may gently push back your cuticles after immersing your feet in the water. Your cuticles will be more pliable after a good soaking.
DO understand how the salon sterilizes its tools between clients. Avoid those that sterilize tools with UV light. Opt instead for salons that soak tools in a blue liquid called Barbicide or, even better, use an autoclave – a unit that kills 100% of infectious organisms.
DON’T get a pedicure if you’ve got an ingrown toenail or cracked, brittle nails. Resolve these problems first with the help of our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Wilhelm, at our Fairfax County podiatry office. Call Clifton Foot & Ankle Center in Centreville, Virginia, at (703) 996-3000 or make an appointment online.
