Nail industry Under Scrutiny After Pedicure Leads to Amputation

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A Franklin nail studio owner wants to share dirty little secrets of the industry – and change the way women (and men) get a pedicure.

This follows a recent $1.75 million settlement made to a Florida woman who had to have her leg amputated after she picked up a serious infection from a pedicure.

Vicki Stewart and her crusaders of clean at Frenchies Modern Nail Care in Franklin, are disruptors in the nail care industry.

“Our mission at Frenchies is ‘We Love Clean.’ ” We are truly a unique nail care studio. We are all about cleanliness and providing healthy nail care to our guests,” says Stewart. “We think it is about time customers knew about the dangers that lurk inside most other nail salons – and how to avoid them.”

The Dangers:

• In a study of people who visited nail salons, more than half reported skin rashes or fungal infection symptoms.
• A podiatrist who wrote a book entitled, Death by Pedicure, claims 75 percent of all U.S. nail salons don’t follow state required procedures to disinfect equipment.
• A whopping 97 percent of nail salon footbaths tested in one study contained M. fortuitum, a dangerous bacterium, according to the CDC.

Seven Safety Suggestions:

Lots of people may not realize how they risk their health when they put their feet in someone else’s hands! If you don’t seek out the safety of Frenchies Modern Nail Care, Stewart offers up these tips to stay safe at other nail salons.

1. Don’t shave your legs the day of a pedicure. Shaving can cause minor abrasions and fissures in the skin, which allows bacteria to enter while your feet soak.
2. Follow the 10-minute rule. How many times have you gone to a nail salon and witnessed the quick change out of customers between pedicures? The EPA recommends a 10 minute wait time between each customer in order for the required disinfectant to work properly – a practice not many nail salons follow.
3. Only allow your nail tech to use clean, new files. You shouldn’t see any marks or dust on the file.
4. Never let a nail tech use a foot razor (look like a vegetable peeler, or cheese grater) to remove dead skin. These tools are banned in some states. Misuse can cause permanent damage or lead to serious infection.
5. Don’t permit a nail tech to cut or trim “live” cuticles, which protect nail beds from bacteria. It is okay for technicians to nip away dead skin, but absolutely no living tissue.
6. If you have an ingrown nail that looks tricky, a salon should refer you to a medical professional to have it resolved. It’s against state regulation for nail technicians to remove ingrown toe nails because they don’t receive the appropriate training as a part of their certification.
7. If you are nicked and see any sign of inflammation or infection, seek medical attention. Most will resolve without treatment, but underlying health conditions such as diabetes can exasperate any situation.

The Threats:

The most common infections acquired at the nail salon are warts and nail fungus. However, as the million-dollar Florida verdict proves – even more dangerous situations can happen.

• Cellulitis – This potentially serious bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria, most commonly streptococcus and staphylococcus, enter through a crack or break in your skin.
• MRSA – Considered a superbug because it is resistant to antibiotics, MRSA infections can lead to severe scarring, amputation, and even death. MRSA can be spread through the sharing of un-sanitized tools.
• Mycobacterium fortuitum - This microbe can grow in the jetted foot spas used by many nail salons for pedicures. It can lead to skin ulcers or boils. Sometimes the boils are mistaken for insect bites.

The connection to Mycobacterium fortuitum and pedicures came to light in early 2000 when more than 100 people contracted skin ulcers – some of whom needed skin grafts. They all developed infections days to weeks after receiving pedicures at the same salon – infections that were determined to come from the jetted foot spas.

The Frenchies Modern Nail Care difference:

Frenchies Modern Nail Care of Franklin serves as a model for cleanliness safety protocols. Here are some of the ways the studio sets itself apart.

• No jetted foot spas that harbor bacteria. Frenchies uses freestanding basins for foot soaks with no jets or pipes to trap harmful bacteria.
• Pedicure benches, custom designed to be easily and thoroughly sanitized between clients, unlike traditional massage chairs.
• Use of single item nail tools like buffers and file, which are used multiple times in most other salons.
• No use of electric nail drills that penetrate live tissue and can cause severe injury or infection.
• Use of a personal ventilation system located at every manicure and pedicure station. It removes stale air and pumps in fresh air – capturing contaminants in the transfer. Most other nail salons just recirculate the air and are not well ventilated.
• Autoclave to disinfect and sanitize metal tools, such a nail clippers. Click to see Coco the Autoclave.

“Frenchies has a total commitment to cleanliness and sanitation and an exceptional guest experience,” adds Stewart. “To safeguard the health and well-being of both guests and employees, we go above and beyond industry sanitation standards to ensure a fresh and clean environment at each visit.”

Frenchies Modern Nail Care of Franklin is located at 720 Jordan Rd. Suite #112. You can make an appointment by calling (615) 412-2800 or on their website – just click here.

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