After the very public split from her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver was seen getting a pedicure at a Beverly Hills salon. Many women and men treat themselves to a pedicure to relieve stress and to keep their feet looking nice thorough the summer. A pedicure may seem harmless, but danger can be lurking in water of the pedicure footbath.
A salon can get really busy, especially in the summer. A pedicure footbath should be cleaned and sanitized with each use, but many salon technicians do not clean their footbaths. A dirty footbath not only has the dead skin and nail clippings of the previous client, but can also have bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In Watsonville, CA, between the years of 2000 and 2001, unclean footbaths caused bacterial infections more than 100 women. The bacterial infection caused this woman to have fungal toenails and pus-filled boils on their legs that left embarrassing scars. Most bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but fungal infections are even more threatening. Fungal infections can lasts for months and in severe cases can lead the amputation of toes.
Not all pedicure salons are bad, but there are 3 things we at Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, LLP, with locations in Howell, Edison, and Monroe, NJ suggest you do to be safe:
1. See a podiatrist for year round foot care
Extremely dry, cracked skin and thick, rough nails may be the sign of a medical issue and pedicure may not be the answer. Podiatrists are trained to keep your feet healthy, especially if you are a diabetic. We have specials tools to take off dry skin and smooth out rough toenails. If needed, a podiatrist can use a scalpel (a small, sharp knife) to remove very dry skin from your heels. NEVER let a salon technician use a knife on your feet! To get started on proper foot care, schedule an appointment with Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP. We have locations at Howell, Edison, and Monroe, New Jersey.
2. Know your rights as a customer.
As a paying customer, you have the right to get a pedicure at a safe salon. In most states, it is the law to clean and disinfect footbaths after each use. If you are concerned, ask the salon staff how they clean their footbaths and what type of disinfectants they use. Make sure that the pedicure tools are sanitized as well. It is also okay to bring your own tools. The salon and all the technicians should have a license to perform pedicures. You should be able to see licenses hanging on the wall. Each license should have a photo of the owner. If you feel uncomfortable at any time before or during your pedicure, leave immediately.
3. Check your feet before and after your pedicure.
Cuts and scrapes on your feet can greatly increase your risk of infection. If you are unsure whether or not your salon is safe, cancel your appointment. Wait until your feet are healed and also wait until you find out more information about your salon. Likewise, if you experience any pain or see redness, swelling, or bumps on your feet after a pedicure, go to your podiatrist immediately. DO NOT wait for the problem to get better by itself!
The above guidelines may make your trip to the salon a little less fun, but foot infections can make your life a lot less fun. Take the time to learn a little more about where you get your pedicures and ensure that your feet remain pretty and healthy. If you think you may have a fungal please call our Howell office at (732) 905-1110, and our Edison or Monroe offices at (732) 662-3050 to make an appointment.
When the weather is warmer, the women run to the salon for a pedicure. This is the busiest time of year for many local nail salons. It is common to receive infections from dirty pedicure baths, and many people are always asking, “is it safe to get a pedicure?” Being a Physical Therapist at 
