Most people love a relaxing pedicure. But while you may have really enjoyed that jet-powered tub and the tickle of a thorough foot filing, when the polish comes off, your nail is cloudy and yellow.
What the — is that a fungal infection? Oh my!
Getting a toe infection from a pedicure is more common than you may think. As podiatrists in Southwest Florida, we’ve seen sole-threatening infections. The good news is, we know exactly how you can avoid them.
Signs You May Have an Infection from a Pedicure
Before we dive into prevention, it’s important to recognize if you are already experiencing signs that you may have an infection following a pedicure appointment.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s crucial to stop the infection from getting worse. Before getting another pedicure, consider a visit to a podiatrist. The treatment may be easier than you expect.
Signs of a bacterial infection include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Throbbing pain
- Pus or drainage
- Warmth to the touch
Signs of a fungal infection include:
- “Cloudy and yellow” nails
- Brittle or crumbly texture
- Thickening of the nail
- Foul odor [Change: Added signs of fungal infection per source 81]
10 Tips to Help You Leave the Nail Salon Infection-Free
Whether you are a nurse working 12-hour shifts, a busy executive, or someone who enjoys rambling about barefoot in our beautiful Florida weather, you probably don’t want an infection sidelining you.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to prevent pedicure infections. Here are ten tips to help you screen the nail salon and leave the nail salon infection-free:
1. Skip the callus filing.
It’s a standard part of most foot bath treatments: the pedicurist pulls out a metal or plastic callus file and starts to scrub your heel. This file strips away the hardened skin, creating a softer heel.
But in many cases, calluses are a good thing— and you shouldn’t get rid of them completely. Calluses help to cushion your feet, and removing too much of this toughened skin can not only cause rubbing in your shoes or pain when walking, but can also lead to infection.
Just like a cheese grater shreds a block of Parmesan, callus files create microabrasions in your skin that invite fungus and bacteria. Pumice stones at salons are even worse; any non-metal tools cannot be properly sterilized, and the porous shape can harbor bacteria.
What to do instead: Rather than scrape off helpful callus skin, moisturize your feet regularly to avoid dry or cracked skin. If you still have an excessive buildup of dead tissue, consider a warm soak and exfoliating scrub at home, or have your calluses professionally filed by a trained podiatrist. Our team can safely reduce painful corns & calluses.
2. Never sit in a foot bath immediately after someone else leaves their seat.
Salons can get busy, and it’s not uncommon for the pedicurist to drain a foot tub, give it a rinse, and usher you over for your turn right away. But we urge you to avoid getting into a chair that’s still warm from the previous customer— because that tub was not properly sanitized.
Bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms can live in that foot spa tub water, and a simple rinse won’t wash them away! The Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (EPA) suggest that salons use an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant between each customer, most of which require a minimum of 10-minute soak to disinfect.
What to do instead: The (EPA) cautions, “Do not use the foot spa if you are not sure it is disinfected and safe to use,”— and we agree! If you are asked to sit in the chair immediately after someone finishes their bath, remind the staff that the tub requires a 10-minute soak with a proper disinfectant, and ask for a refund (because who knows what else they aren’t sanitizing!).
3. Say no to the jets.
As you can see, spa foot baths are one of the primary causes of pedicure infections, as the warm water creates an ideal environment for bacteria and pedicure fungus.
Bath jets, in particular, are quite unsanitary, as the chambers where the water is propelled out are often home to infectious cultures.
What to do instead: We know the jets can feel nice, but it’s best to pass on tubs with jets. Try finding a salon that has pipeless foot baths, or better yet, one that lines their tubs with individual bath liners with each new soak!
4. Cancel your nail appointment if you have cuts or open sores, including bug bites.
This one seems obvious: open skin + bacteria/fungi = a painful toe infection from your pedicure.
These contaminants don’t just live in the foot bath water; they can also be found on pedicure tools like clippers, files, and (we hate to say it), but even within the nail polish bottles themselves.
Because infections can spread easily from open wounds or even from minor abrasions to open wounds or abrasions on your skin, such as brush burns or scrapes, we advise you to skip the nail salon if you have any wounds. This includes bug bites, which can occur on your legs and become infected when the pedicurist scrubs your legs during the bath treatment.
What to do instead: Wait until your wounds fully heal before scheduling your nail appointment. If you are diabetic, this is even more important! Learn more about diabetic foot ulcers for more on wound prevention.
5. Don’t shave beforehand.
Shaving falls under the same category as open wounds. Although you might not think you cut yourself with the razor, the blades create microtears in your skin, which can allow bacteria to enter through your legs.
Because of how easily contamination can spread through the microtears created by razor blades, the EPA recommends, “Do not shave, use hair removal creams or wax your legs during the 24 hours before receiving treatment in a foot spa.”
What to do instead: Go a little hairy; the pedicurist will survive!
6. Pass on the cuticle trim.
These last two tips for avoiding pedicure infections focused on open wounds—and this one does too. When a pedicurist trims your cuticles, you are literally causing a cut to your skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology encourages you to always protect your cuticles. It’s your nail’s protective barrier, and cutting it away or forcefully pushing it back can be damaging and invite infection. This can be especially painful if you’re already prone to ingrown toenails.
What to do instead: If your cuticles are a little wild, try lubricating them with a gentle lotion or whip up a DIY cuticle soak at home. Once softened, gently push them back with a wooden cuticle stick. If you are at the salon, be cautious of any cuticle soaking solutions; be sure to ask what is in them and ensure the metal cuticle pushing tool has been sterilized for at least 10 minutes.
7. Skip the salon that sterilizes tools with UV light.
Speaking of sterilizing cuticle pushing sticks, all the tools used at a spa need to be properly sanitized. At some nail salons, you’ll see a toaster-oven-like machine that uses UV light to sanitize anything inside.
However, with UV devices like this, the process takes six hours to sterilize. Placing tools in a machine like this for a few minutes won’t do much to get rid of infectious fungi or bacteria. Three states (Texas, New York, and Iowa) require the use of an autoclave in nail salons by law, which kills infectious organisms using high pressure and steam.
Here in Florida, however, it’s a hit or miss if your spa will have one, so it’s often safer to trust the right liquid disinfectant solution. You’ve probably seen tools soaking in a blue liquid disinfectant before at a nail salon. This solution is usually Barbicide, and it’s a good sign to trust the pedicurist. These tools are often safe to use without the worry of bacterial or fungal transfer.
What to do instead: Ensure the nail salon is letting their metal tools soak in an EPA-registered disinfectant, or ask if they use an autoclave.
8. Schedule your appointment early in the day.
Simply put, a nail salon should be at its cleanest first thing when it opens. The salon likely sanitized its tools overnight and cleaned all machinery or soaked its bathing tubs overnight. That’s why Advancing Foot and Ankle Medicine and Surgery (APMA) recommends scheduling your pedicure early, before others use the tools and equipment, to avoid pedicure infections.
9. Bring your own pedicure tools to the nail salon.
Don’t be embarrassed to bring your own tools or even nail polish to a nail salon! Not all businesses will be okay with this, but a flexible pedicurist can work with whatever tools you bring them. You’ll have greater peace of mind knowing that your pedicure tools were sterilized properly and only used by you— not hundreds of other strangers.
10. Never cover up an infected nail.
It’s not uncommon for people to go to a nail salon specifically to cover up a toenail fungus problem.
This creates a frustrating cycle where many people feel the need to hide a discolored nail with more polish. Unfortunately, coating the problem often worsens the infection by trapping it against the nail bed, while also increasing the risk of spreading it to others.
What to do instead: If you suspect you’ve developed an infection or see concerning symptoms, see a podiatrist; you may need professional treatment for a bacterial or fungal nail infection. Also, seek professional care before this condition worsens!
Got Pain? Don’t Wait. See a Podiatrist.
Oftentimes, a home pedicure is the safest way to avoid foot or toe infections. Give us a call and ask a member of our team for advice on how to properly sanitize your tools. We’d be happy to share our recommendations.
However, for those who fall victim to a fungal or bacterial infection, you may need medication or medicated treatment.
Don’t “wait and see”— that’s how infections step up. The Foot & Ankle Group is ready to help you get back on your feet, pain-free. Give us a call at 239.936.5400 or find our locations in Ft. Myers, Bonita Springs, or Cape Coral to schedule your appointment.
About the Experts
The Foot & Ankle Group is a team of board-certified podiatrists serving Southwest Florida. With decades of combined experience in everything from diabetic foot care to treating stubborn fungal infections, our doctors provide expert care with a personal touch. We believe you shouldn’t have to choose between safe and beautiful feet.
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