Is it safe to get my nails done at a beauty salon?
As Podiatrists, we often get asked, "is it safe to get pedicures done at nail salons?"
Who cuts your nails and how your nails are cut can really affect the health and comfort of your feet.
We have, unfortunately, needed to help many clients who have developed nail problems and skin infections after visiting their local nail salon.
For this reason, we have put together this helpful article to give you the information you need to make the right decisions when considering a nail salon.
Pedicures feel like you're being pampered, but are they the safest option?
Are pedicures safe for YOU?
Individuals with medical conditions such as diabetes and those with reduced blood supply to the feet, have a significantly higher risk of complications following a salon pedicure and should seriously consider seeing a Podiatrist for their general nail care.
I have no issue with my high-risk clients having toenails painted at a salon however, the use of instruments such as nippers or cuticle cleaners that may cause skin or nail trauma is not advised.
Also, just remember that using nail varnishes regularly may increase your risk of fungal nail infections!
If you have any concerns about the level of hygiene in your favourite nail salon, make sure you ask them how they sterilize their instruments.
If you are not happy with their answer, look for another salon.
Podiatry or pedicure?
One of the most important things to remember is that when you see a Podiatrist, there are specific government guidelines regarding how the instruments we use are cleaned, processed and sterilized.
Ensuring that each set of instruments is sterile before use is vital to prevent cross-infection with nail fungus, bacteria and viruses like Hepatitis and HIV.
All our instruments are fully sterilized which is vital in preventing cross-infection
Podiatrists are university-educated health professionals who have been trained to correctly manage all types of nail and skin problems including thickened and deformed nails as well as pain problems such as ingrown toenails.
By seeing a Podiatrist that has the correct training and appropriate qualifications, you significantly reduce your risk of dangerous complications following nail care such as trauma and infection.
Common nail and skin problems
The most common problems we need to help with following a poorly performed pedicure are:
- Ingrowing toenails
- Fungal nail infections
- Skin infections
Ingrowing toenails
Ingrown toenails are most commonly caused by poor nail cutting techniques that result in part of the nail starting to dig into the skin next to the toenail.
Ingrown toenail
When this happens, it is, unfortunately, very common for the nail to break the skin which often results in bacterial infection and very painful ingrown toenail.
Fungal nail infections
When nail care is performed with blunt or unsterilised instruments, there is a significant risk that damage can occur to the toenails and subsequent infection.
These infections are very difficult to get rid of and can cause significant, painful changes to your toenails.
Skin infections
As I mentioned before, there is no law to compel nail salon technicians to properly sterilise their instruments between
What this means for you is a high risk of skin infections following your nail salon visit.
How We Can Help You
We help many clients on a daily basis to manage their nails and fix their foot problems; it’s not a luxury, it’s a medical treatment to help you keep doing all the things you love without worrying about your feet.
If you have any worries about your nails or need to talk about your nail salon experience, call us on 8330 0004 or book an appointment online to get the right advice from one of our expert Podiatrists.
Yours in helping to build amazing lives from the feet up,
Anthony Robinson
Director of Complete Podiatry