How to Keep From Getting Fungus at a Pedicure Salon
Nail Fungus Part 5
How to Keep From Getting Fungus at a Nail Salon
In my opinion, people who have nail fungus from pedicure salons usually get it by layering polish or gel over nails that have some superficial damage. When you soak your feet in the salon, moisture can get trapped in nail defects. That moisture can stay under your polish or gel for the many weeks or months and create the perfect breeding ground for fungus.
Use of gel (shellac) or pedicure tools can cause damage to the nail bed, making it scratched, white, or pitted. Your pedicurist could damage your nail if they scrape your gel off using metal instruments. Even a small amount of damage to the surface of the nail can POTENTIALLY set up fungus.
Do I get pedicures? Yes. The leg massage, the hot towels, the massaging chair, and someone who can paint my nails and it not look like a kindergartener did it? What can I say. I love them. For my medical situation, it’s worth the risk.
Inspect Your Nails Before Painting:
I inspect my nails before I let them paint my nails. I recommend that if you see superficial nail damage after getting a pedicure do the following:
See if it can be sanded or buffed off.
If your pedicurist can NOT sand or polish it off, WAIT for this damaged nail to grow out before painting your nails again.
I believe this painting over trapped moisture to be the most common cause of damage/fungus from pedicures.
Good Salon Practices:
A good salon will also use the following:
Sterile instruments—either heat sealed in a bag or soaking in a cold sterilization solution.
A fresh, sterile sanding bit.
YOUR OWN FILES AND BUFFER which haven’t been used by other clients (which they should offer to sell you on your first visit and you typically bring back on subsequent visits).
A liner for the soaking bath, if soaking is used.
70% rubbing alcohol on your nails to remove moisture before painting/shellacking:
These tips are my best advice for staying safe at the salon.
As always, make sure your medical doctor or podiatrist feels you are healthy enough for a pedicure. Often, we discourage people with high risk health conditions from getting pedicures. Make sure you get your advice from the doctor who knows you and treats you. Thank you for being curious.
Dr. C.