The Ugly Truth Behind Beautiful Nails
Manicures and pedicures have become a way of life and grown into a billion dollar industry. Many, a trip to the local nail salon for a bit of pampering and preening is the ultimate summer indulgence. But the public would be left shocked on hearing about the hidden dangers in the simple procedures of “Manicures and pedicures“.
Dr. Carolyn Siegal, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, president of CLS Healthy Feet, L.L.C., and creator of Dr. Siegal’s Savvy Nail Kit, said that, with more and more nail spas and salons opening up each week, medical professionals have noticed an alarming upsurge in transmissible diseases. These diseases include fungal nail infections (onychomycosis), bacterial skin infections (such as a Staph infection) and viral infections (such as plantar warts). To avoid all these problems, it is highly recommended to carry your own tools and protective tub liner when you go to the salon for your routine nail treatments.
Generally, the equipment used at the nail salons is considered as the potential source of infection. Medical regulations to autoclave nail instruments are not mandated in the cosmetic industry. The only way to fully eradicate infectious organisms is through a very technical process called autoclaving, which is regulated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) nationwide, in medical offices and hospitals. The methods used to autoclave metal instruments involve an intense heat and pressure treatment for up to 45 minutes at 272 degrees Fahrenheit. The cosmetic industry is simply not required to a medical level of sterilization.
The risks are severe and even include the blood-borne viral diseases hepatitis B, C and HIV. These diseases are transmitted when infected blood of an individual enters the body of another; the infection can result in liver cirrhosis and/or cancer of the liver. It is well known that during a manicure or pedicure, small breaks in the skin can occur. Microscopic blood contact is all that is necessary, and through which a serious and sometimes fatal infection can enter your system.
Many cosmetologists remain uneducated about the dangers of spreading disease and the necessary safety measures to be adopted. According to the statistics, 36 million individuals in the United States have onychomycosis (nail fungus). Of these, only 6.2 million have been to the doctor for a diagnosis and only 2.5 million have taken the medication to treat it. This means that there are over 33 million people walking around with nail fungus, unaware of the fact that they are the involved in it’s spread.
‘Universal precautions’ are a set of universal guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control in the year 1980. It mandates that health care workers treat every patient as if they have a blood-borne disease, regardless of their infectious status. As for blood-borne viral diseases such as hepatitis, most cosmetologists have little or no knowledge about ‘universal precautions.’ OSHA adopted universal precautions in 1991 for medical health care workers, EMTs, police officers, and funeral directors. However, the guidelines were not implemented in the cosmetology industry. If cosmetologists were educated about universal precautions, it would greatly reduce everyone’s risk of contracting diseases from salons
Though, manicures and pedicures cause a risk of transmitting the diseases. Do not fear and deny yourself of having one. There are ways to protect yourself.
Purchase your own nail kit; carry it with you when you have appointments. Use a disposable tub liner on a small portable tub. Working surfaces should be clean and dry. The service should never be painful. Be alert for discolorations, sores or pain after nail treatments. See a physician if something ‘unusual’ occurs or if you notice skin or nail changes.
Beware: Barbicide only disinfects and may not kill hepatitis C or similar viruses. Disposable items, such as wood sticks and tub liners, should be thrown away after use. Illegal tools, like razors, scrapers or graters for calluses must never be used. Manicurists should wash their hands thoroughly between clients. Inform the manicurist if you are diabetic, taking blood-thinning medication, have open lesions, rash or eczema, or have a communicable disease.
For additional information on the risks of nail salons please visit www.clshealthyfeet.com