When It Comes To Pedicures, Pamper With Care

Warm weather is the perfect time for walking barefoot in the sand, lounging by the pool and showing off those killer Tory Burch sandals.

It's definitely not the time to find yourself with ugly, black, crusty toenails.

An indulgent afternoon at the spa may seem like the perfect way to get your footsies ready for their close-up. But if you put your feet in the wrong hands, you may end up wishing you could hide them away in your winter boots.

There are health risks associated with all that soaking, buffing, cutting and polishing.

"It can and it does happen," says Dr. Marc Katz, a podiatrist at Advanced Podiatry in South Tampa. "And when you think about the sheer volume of pedicures that are done every day in nail salons, you want to take some measures to guard against potential health concerns."

Katz warns patients against using the jet footbaths at nail salons. If the plumbing isn't cleaned properly, the tubs can be the source of potentially dangerous infections. The jet and pipes used to soak feet collect the hair and skin of customers, and the combination of warm water and dirty jets is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Katz says salons that don't properly sanitize equipment can put customers at risk for diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. "If you pierce someone's skin and they bleed and you don't clean it properly, it could happen. The sterilization is the most important thing."

Dangers also include fungal infections such as athlete's foot, and bacterial infections such as pseudomonas and staphylococcus, known as staph.

Bacterial infections can be cleared up with oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics. A fungal infection is harder to treat.

"The nail bed is very hard to penetrate," Katz says. "There are pills you can take, but it's still not a 100 percent it will clear up. You can still have it come back and it can infect other nails."

Instead of a foot spa, Studio G, a hair and nail salon in South Tampa, uses a pedicure bowl made of resin, which is naturally antimicrobial and takes only 10 minutes to sanitize.

Foot spas "are the leading cause of people getting infections," says Erin West, a Studio G manicurist. "They trap bacteria in the drain area, and if they are not sanitized properly, you are going to inherit what that person before you had."

West follows a regular routine to sanitize the foot bowl after each customer. "That's state law," she adds. "But some salons just don't do it."

State guidelines say that after each customer, a salon should empty the used water and remove all debris from the footbath, sanitize the surface of the tub with soap and rinse with clean water. Then the footbath should be disinfected with a bleach-based cleanser for at least 10 minutes prior to being wiped dry and refilled for the next customer.

Jeanne Rainey of Tampa says she has been getting pedicures for 15 years, and never had a problem until three years ago, when she picked up an infection.

"When the nail tech saw it, she just cut off my nail," says Rainey, of Tampa. "I thought that was normal and the infection went away."

It didn't. And a few weeks later, it got worse.

"It was really ugly," Rainey recalls. "It was black and green, really nasty looking."

Rainey went to see a doctor who told her she likely picked up the infection from a nail salon. She was put on a topical antibiotic. The infection took months to clear up.

"I don't think a lot of women really think about this kind of thing until it happens to them," she says. "The place I went to was very inexpensive and it looked clean. But in the long run, it turned out to be more expensive."

Mary Zellner stopped getting pedicures after her toenails started turning black a couple of months ago.

"It started on both of my big toes and then started spreading to the other toes," says Zellner, 47, who has been getting pedicures for 12 years. "They started getting darker and darker. I spoke to some girlfriends, and they said the same thing was happening to them. I'm taking a break from pedicures for a while."

And she has an appointment to see her doctor.

A salon found in violation of sanitation regulations usually is fined, and if no improvements are made, its license can be suspended.

Katz says it's important for patrons to ask pedicurists about their sanitation practices and to watch closely as the pedicure is given. Customers also can ask for a sanitation log that shows how the equipment is cleaned and the number of times.

If the salon doesn't look clean or feel clean, walk out.

"You can't believe the number of patients I have who come in and say, 'I don't usually go there. It didn't feel clean and I didn't feel comfortable.' But they went ahead with the nail service anyway. That gut instinct makes a difference."

Make Sure Safety Is Afoot During Pedicures

Pedicures are supposed to be a relaxing, indulgent experience. Dr. Marc Katz of Advanced Podiatry in South Tampa offers these tips to make sure you leave with your feet looking gorgeous, not gruesome:

Take your own pedicure instruments: It's much safer. Wash them with soap and water and rinse them with alcohol or iodine when you get home. Some salons will give you your own kit and keep them for you.

Get a recommendation: Ask people you know who have been going to a salon for a long time.

Check licenses: Don't be afraid to ask to see a license. A licensed salon will be happy to show you.

Ask how the salon sanitizes tools between clients: An autoclave, a device that sterilizes tools with steam and heat, is best, Katz says. That big blue jar you see instruments swimming in may not destroy bacteria or fungus.

If the salon uses a foot bath, make sure you see someone clean the tub: If it has jets, make sure someone circulates the cleaning agent through the jets. Check to see whether screens and filters are changed or sanitized after every customer.

Make sure the nail techs wear gloves when they do your nails.

Don't let the nail tech cut your cuticles: "Cuticles are there for a reason, it's a protection barrier for your nail," Katz says. "When you cut your cuticles, you open them up and expose bacteria to the deeper tissue."

Never allow a tech to use a foot razor or scalpel on your feet: They are against the law in Florida and most states.

Check for general cleanliness: Is there dirt or nail clippings on the floor? This could indicate a lack of attention to cleanliness.

Don't shave your legs 24 hours before a pedicure: Broken skin gives infection an easy in.

If you suspect you have an infection, see your doctor immediately.