With summer just around the bend, a lot of women are making their way to the nail salon to pamper themselves with a fresh manicure or pedicure. Unfortunately, a lot of fungus and bacteria can linger in these salons. To help keep your nails healthy and free from infection, here are a few tips and things you should be in the lookout for.
Salon Appearance
The first impression is a good place to start. Does the salon look well cleaned? There shouldn’t be dirty tools or paper lying around. While the smell of chemicals may be a good sign that they clean the place, it could also be a good sing that the salon needs to be better ventilated.
Tool Sterilization
Don’t be afraid to ask about tool sterilization. You should also ask how often the foot-soaking tubs are cleaned down –since they should be cleaned in-between each client. The tool sterilization process should be done by using a heat-sterilization, often known as autoclave. Other means of sterilization will do the truck –such as UV light boxes, or chemical sterilization.
Things to Avoid
Don’t let the salon scrape your callused skin off since this can put you at a higher risk for infection. If you have any calluses that need to be taken care of, you should save that job for your podiatrist –since they will be able to pinpoint exactly what has caused the callusing and how to properly treat and prevent it. You should also avoid having your cuticles clipped. While it’s ok to have them pushed back after a good soak, cutting them can expose you to infection as well.
Know the Signs
Finally, you should know what to look for when it comes to an infection so you can get it treated properly right away. Infections under and around the nailbed can become dangerous quickly and will most likely need antibiotics to treat. Look for red, inflamed or swollen areas on or around your nailbeds. You should also report any discoloration to your doctor as yellow, green, black, or blue discoloration can be a sign of infection.
Tags: Foot Care, Fungus, Prevention, Toenail