Don’t be callous about callus

Despite our financial crises two services are growing in popularity. Those are massages and pedicures. It is not only being vain or trendy but first and most of all people want to remove the build up of sick dry skin covering the heels, the balls of feet or joint parts of the toes. Clients want to have it removed and make it stop growing. Unfortunately you can not stop callus from coming back. Skin is a protective organ of the body, and knows its job. There is even an additional layer of the tissue in epidermis level of the skin on the feet and palms area to protect those body parts from excessive pressure. The other reason for that layer to be there is to protect it from bacteria because there is no hair there. We do not also grow hair on the lip area and eyelids, except those parts that the entire body is cover in hair.  If callus has to be there the body will create it faster then you remove it.

 Calluses are specific areas of skin that have become hardened and firm and are often the direct result of excessive pressure from small shoes, repetitive motion exercises and improper walking technique. A reflexologist views calluses as an imbalance, caused by the body to protect itself. Because each unique zone on your hands and feet is said to correlate to a different organ, a callus indicates toxicity and corrosion in that corresponding part of your body. As a result, if you have a callus on the part of your foot that corresponds to the lung area, a reflexologist may interpret that as an indication of a lung condition or other respiratory issue.

Corns are a cone-shaped piece of hardened skin that often forms on the toe joints. As the corn increases in size, it can often press on the nerves in your toes, causing unwanted pain and stress on your joints. With respect to reflexology, corns, like callouses, represent an imbalance in other parts of your body. For example, a corn located on the outside portion of your pinkie toe may indicate a pain or injury in your shoulder.

What and how beauty salons are aloud to approach the problem?

When I first started in 1985 razor was the king, and it was legal to use in spas. I was shocked because in Europe (Poland in particular) nail technicians were using sophisticated scalper similar to those which plastic surgeons use right now to resurface the dead skin on the face. They were very careful and followed the rule “less is more.” I stopped using a razor in my spa in 1990 when a pedicurist cut clients heel so badly that she had to cancel her family vacation and was in a wheel chair for a few weeks. I was lucky that we used disposable razors so we had not cross contamination or infection. The client did not sue, but I had to reimburse her for her vacation cost, and pay the hospital bills. I learned my lesson and we started using electric drill for server calluses and good quality pedicure files for easier cases. Few years after the unpleasant experience most of the states prohibit use of razors in pedicures, and stated that manicurist and pedicurist are aloud to work only on epidermis, which is the first mostly dead layer of the skin. Not only calluses are not aloud to be treated aggressively but also cuticles have to be approached in the same matter. Trimming the dead part of it not the living cells.  I know that there are places around that still use the razor, but if they break that rule they probably break most of the rules of sanitation and sterilization as well. Sanitation means washing the dirt and debris from the instruments, when sterilization means killing the bacteria with dry heat, steam, or medicated chemicals. FDA and OSHA recommend and demand in medical facilities using Autoclave which is high heat sterilizer. The state of Texas made it mandatory since 2010 in all spas, after hundreds of reported infections due to unsanitary conditions in spa’s and beauty salons. I brought this instrument recently to Renu, and my clients are very appreciative for it. Going back to the callous there are right now unbelievable products on the market which work similarly to deep facial peels. Those products eliminate layers of callus skin and it takes just seconds of filing to complete the job. If calluses are removed with moderation and cautiousness the body is not alert that there is a danger to the skin and does not rush to immediately replace the calluses. Our clients finally trust us with our approach, which is progressive not aggressive treatment of the skin. Tender loving care applies not only to the heart but to the entire body as well. If it comes to corns, spas are not aloud to treat them and must send clients to foot  doctors for proper treatment.  You also have to understand the pedicure should not be an occasional treatment and it is not an extravagant one. During the pedicure toe nails are cut, filed, and shaped. It is a very important act for health of your toe nails If the toe nails are to long and you run, walk, jog, or work on your feet all day long, especially if you are wearing closed toed shoes your toe nails will be lifted and fungus will grow under it. If it already happed to you don’t be afraid and panic. There are ways to eliminate fungus without liver damaging internal medications. Your can use lazar or google holistic approach to fungus and you will find very usefully advices. Tea tree and Lavender oils are scientifically proven to work in mild cases or as a preventive act. They are also effective medicated cosmetics sold at spas. Talk also to your technician about your problem so she can take steps not to contaminate base coats, top coats, and polishes. At Renu we are bringing now half ounces bottle of those products for clients like you. What you also have to be alert of is the pedicure pools. They should be sanitized and sterilized between each client for at least 15 minutes you should see the schedule of that procedure on the walls by the spas. This is a mandatory act.

May you walk all year around on your healthy and beautiful feet