The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is a good source for information and tips on good foot hygiene. As summer is here, we try to reiterate to you the good practices that can contribute both to your foot health and to your body’s overall wellbeing. Reminding you what to do and what to avoid when going for a pedicure session can only help keeping you fit and healthy.
Remember that if you have certain health problems, a customized pedicure session should be taken into consideration. For example, if you have diabetes or poor circulation of blood in your feet you need a special treatment to avoid complications In case of hepatitis or skin diseases you need special care to avoid transmission of your illness to others.
Considering that you are fit and healthy, look what you should do:
-Arrange your pedicure session early in the morning. Salon staff is not tired and foot baths are usually cleaner. If you’re not an early bird make sure that the salon follows all cleaning and sterilizing rules, filters and cleans the foot bath between clients.
-if you have your quality pedicure utensils, bring them to the salon and ask the pedicurist to use them while treating you to avoid bacteria and fungus that can move easily from one person to the other if the salon doesn’t use proper sterilization techniques.
-Use a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub to eliminate thick, dead skin build-ups (so called calluses) on the heel, ball and sides of the feet. Soak feet in warm water for at least five minutes then use the stone, scrub or foot file to gently smooth calluses and other rough patches.
-Use a toenail clipper with a straight edge to trim nails. These clippers ensure your toenail is cut straight across and avoid the risk of ingrown toenails incurred by other tools like manicure scissors or fingernail clippers with small, curved shape. See a podiatrist if you have a tendency to develop ingrown toenails.
-Use an emery board to smooth nail edges. Do not scrape the nail’s surface and do not press too hard while filing lightly in one direction.
-Use a wooden or rubber manicure stick to remove dirt, build-ups and keep clean under your nails. Many times dirt can not be seen but is there. Never use sharp tools to clean under nails. Using anything sharp makes it easy to puncture the skin, leaving it vulnerable to infection.
-Apply emollient-enriched moisturizer to keep soles soft and maintain the proper moisture balance of your feet’s skin.
-Push back cuticles using a rubber cuticle pusher or manicure stick but do not exaggerate doing it too often.
-Remove polish regularly using non-acetone nail polish remover and re-apply polish if toenails are healthy.
Things you should not do:
-Avoid shaving your legs before a pedicure session as freshly shaven legs or small cuts on may ease the entry of bacteria and fungus.
-Don’t use the same tools for pedicure and manicure because bacteria and fungus can transfer between toes and fingers.
-Forbid technicians to use foot razors, cutters or similar tools to remove dead skin. Incorrectly used razors can lead to permanent damages and can easily cause infection if the pedicurist goes too deep into the skin.
-Toenails’ edges should not be rounded to avoid development of painful ingrown toenails.
-Never share nail files with friends and be sure to bring your own to the salon if you have doubts that the salon replaces them with each customer. Emery boards can’t be sterilized, are extremely porous and can trap germs that spread.
-Avoid leaving moisture between toes as it can promote the development of athlete’s foot or a fungal infection.
-Never cut cuticles because they serve as a protective barrier against bacteria. Pushing back cuticles all the time can make them thicker while cutting cuticles increases the risk of infection.
-Don’t apply nail polish to cover up problems like thick and discolored toenails, which could be a sign of a fungal infection. Treat these problems with care and if they persist ask your doctor for help. Nail polish locks out moisture and doesn’t allow the nail bed to “breathe.”
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