Getting A Pedicure? How To Avoid Fungus On Feet And Infections From An Ingrowing Toe Nail
There seems to be a growing trend in children’s birthday parties. No longer are the days that a simple McDonald’s play place celebration is the coveted party. Not just for mommies anymore, little girls are inviting all their besties and having a spa-day party. Getting glam! Usually this means a nice and relaxing pedicure and getting those cute little piggies ready to show off.
Not just for mommies anymore, little girls are inviting all their besties and having a spa-day party.
By now we’ve all heard of the dangers that can come with getting a pedicure, so I thought that this would be a good time to go over some safety tips to keep our princesses’ twinkle toes in tip top shape.
Keep it covered
- When it comes to soaking, call the party location ahead of time and make sure that they use disposable liners in their basins. Sure those whirlpool jets feel nice but all sorts of bacteria can be circulated throughout the mechanisms. Even if they clean the tubs after every use, once those jets get turned on everything comes back into the tub again. So unless you want fungus on feet, make sure they use disposable liners. Keep in mind; the filters aren’t cleaned after every use.
Sure those whirlpool jets feel nice but all sorts of bacteria can be circulated throughout the mechanisms.
Tools of the trade
- If you have them, bring your own pedicure set of tools. Many places nowadays put their tools into a UV box that resembles a toaster oven to sterilize their instruments after each use. Normally they have clients back to back, which means that those instruments aren’t likely under the UV light to fully sterilize them. Standards only call for disinfecting instruments by soaking in rubbing alcohol, so unless you want to find fungal nail infection treatment, you’re better off to bring your own tools that haven’t been used on a multitude of toes that aren’t yours.
Normally they have clients back to back, which means that those instruments aren’t likely under the UV light to fully sterilize them.
Use a new stone
- Soft tools, such as pumice stones and emery boards, cannot be sterilized or soaked in alcohol. They are used from one person to the next without any cleaning. Although great to get the dead skin off your heels, pumicing can leave micro tears in the skin and transfer bacteria or warts. How do you get warts? Simple introduction under the skin. Make sure to ask about one-time use pumice stones and nail files. Many places will now have mini versions of these tools that they dispose of after each use.
Harmful bacteria love to find a warm, dark, moist environment to call home. Nail polish bottles provide their ideal real estate.
BYO-Polish
- Bring your own nail polish. Bottles of nail polish are breading grounds for fungus and bacteria. Harmful bacteria love to find a warm, dark, moist environment to call home. Nail polish bottles provide their ideal real estate. If a polish was previously used on a toe-nail that had a fungal infection and that brush was put back into the bottle, that bottle is now contaminated and can easy transfer that fungal infection to the next unsuspecting customer. Bonus to bringing your own polish is that you have the colour afterwards for touch-ups when you get those unexpected chips.
Don’t shave
- I recommend that you don’t shave your legs (for those older girls) the day before you go. Minor cuts and scrapes make for portals for bacteria to enter into our bodies.
Cut your own nails
- Don’t let the technician cut your nails. This is especially true for the younger girls since their nails are still much more pliable. Nails that are cut too far down the side or too short and lead to an ingrowing toe nail. Much like shaving your legs, cutting your nails too short can leave a way for bacteria to enter. Ask them to simply file your nails; there is less damage to the nail and surrounding skin this way. This is especially true if you have an ingrowing toe nail. This skin is often broken and prone to infections.
It may seem like this is a lot to keep in mind for child’s birthday party but it’s better to bring home lasting memories and not lasting infections. Keep your feet healthy.
Quick Tips:
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Bring your own supplies
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Don’t share other people’s germs!
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Cut ‘em yourself
