Pedicure questions to ask

With weddings, proms and graduations galore, many women consider a pedicure a "must" this time of year.  Dr. Joy Rowland, a foot specialist at Cleveland Clinic, says the occasional pedicure is perfectly fine - as long as the salon is clean and instruments are sterilized.

"As you're in the waiting room, just kind of watch and see what they do. Do they clean the bowls after they're done with each client? Do they bring out new instruments for each client? That will give you an idea if they're using clean instruments," Rowland said.

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It's important to make sure instruments used on your feet are sterilized. foot baths, or bowls, should be cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectant between clients. If you can't tell, don't be afraid to ask about cleaning procedures.

It is also important that tools used during a pedicure don't tear or cut the skin.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, microorganisms in foot spas can enter through a cut and cause an infection. So, you never want to put an open wound, including bug bites, scratches, and cuts, into a foot bath.

"Their skin gets cut then they put their feet inside the bowls and the bacteria from the legs, the natural flora from the skin, is swirling around inside the bowl and that gets inside the cut and they can get another infection then inside the skin," Rowland explained.

It's also a good idea to ask the technician to avoid cutting your toenails. If a toenail is cut too deep, it may lead to an ingrown toenail or an infection. Some salons use tools that look like cheese graters or metal files, but it's best to avoid using rough instruments on your skin.

"I do not recommend metal files," said Rowland. "I even tell my patients when they're in the office and they file their own calluses at home to please not use metal files because they can tear the skin. "

Rowland say tools that look like sand paper or brushes will be softer on the skin, so ask that those are used instead.