Do you have questions about foot health? Contact the professionals at Kansas City Foot Specialists today!
How can a place that is designed to clean your feet be detrimental to your foot health? There are a few things to look out for before, during, and after your pedicure that could limit your exposure to potential infections:
Preparing for your appointment
Cleaning utensils, footbaths, and worker’s hands will generally be cleaner first thing in the morning, so it is advised to schedule your appointment early in the day. Ask the receptionist what the wait time is between each person’s feet being placed into the bath water. This will give you an idea of how much cleaning is done between patients.
Avoid shaving or waxing your legs before your pedicure appointment. Hair removal can cause microtrauma and cuts on your legs and feet that are susceptible to developing an infection after your pedicure, particularly if your pedicure includes a skin scrub or leg massage.
Safety precautions during your appointment
Survey the place of business before your appointment starts. The footbath water should be regularly cleaned between customers and should never appear dirty. Watch the workers cleaning process and see if they soak their utensils in disinfectant in between customers. Consider checking out the bathrooms to get an idea of the hygiene standards that are being practiced by the company.
Instruct the worker to avoid cutting or pushing back your cuticles. The cuticles act as a protective barrier to decrease the chance of bacteria entering the body through the fingers. If the worker damages the cuticles, they become less efficient at ridding the body of harmful bacteria and infections that can develop during and after your visit.
Monitor how the worker is smoothing the surfaces of your feet. If it becomes painful or you’re being rubbed raw in parts of the foot, ask the worker to stop. The smoothing and elimination of dead skin cells
What to do after your pedicure
Closely monitor your feet throughout the next couple weeks after your visit to make sure an infection hasn’t entered your feet. Look out for the appearance of a pimple or boil that’s red, swollen, or painful, as this may be the sign of a bacterial infection. If your toenails develop a yellowish tint, or your feet begin to itch and peel then you may have developed a fungal infection from your pedicure. If you begin to develop any unusual symptoms in your feet, contact a podiatrist and let them know about your recent pedicure appointment.
If you are experiencing symptoms of an infection after a recent pedicure, contact the professionals at Kansas City Foot Specialists to set up a consultation. We can help diagnose and treat your symptoms to ensure your feet are healthy and happy!
