Now that beauty and nail salons are up and running, women and men are resuming their pre-COVID pedicure ritual.
I wanted to lay out some important considerations prior to scheduling your next pedi.
- Always go to a reputable salon.
- Look around to see if the staff are disinfecting foot baths and sanitizing tools.
- Be sure sterile instruments and new emery boards are utilized for each client.
- Bring your own polish! Bacteria and fungus can be transferred from person to person. You never know who the polish was used on before you chose it.
- Do not shave your legs prior to a pedicure. Small cuts in the skin allow bacteria to enter the body.
- Do not allow your cuticles to be cut, only pushed back. Damage to the cuticle will allow bacteria and fungus to enter the area between the nail and the skin.
- For thick calloused skin, pumice stones and foot files are OK, razors are not!
- Do not cover thick or discolored nails with polish. This may be a sign of a fungal infection which should be treated. Nail polish is occlusive and can only make the condition worse.
If you are concerned that you have a nail or skin issue, and to avoid potential risks such as infection, please call our office to be evaluated by Dr. Tsombaris prior to scheduling a pedicure.
