Common pedicure tools used at salons, like clippers, fillers, and foot spas can harbour bacteria and fungus, which may get transferred to your feet and cause a fungal infection.
If you are planning to go to a salon or spa for a pedicure, here are 6 precautions you can take to prevent fungus on your feet or toenails.
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6 Tips to Prevent Fungal Infection After a Pedicure
1. Choose Your Salon Carefully
The most common cause of fungal infection after a pedicure is unsterilised or poorly sterilised equipment. If the salon shares tools between customers, they can transmit fungus from one person to another.
And it’s not just files and cuticle pushers that you should be worried about; equipment like foot spas can still harbour fungus even after they’ve been cleaned with water. Nail polishes and brushes are another way you can get fungus after a pedicure.
To reduce your risk of an infection, find a reputable salon that maintains high cleanliness and hygiene standards. Looking through customer reviews can tell you what to expect from a particular salon.
If it’s the first time you are going there, get to the salon a half hour before your appointment to observe how they do things. Do they sterilise tools between customers? How well do they clean equipment like foot baths? Don’t be afraid to ask questions, too.
The best salons use disposable clippers, files, and other tools, and open a new kit for each new customer. For equipment that’s shared, such as foot spas, they should be cleaned with soap and water then disinfected with a hospital-grade disinfectant.
2. Don’t Go If You Have an Open Wound or Existing Infection
Having a cut or open wound on your feet or legs greatly increases the risk of a fungal or bacterial infection. Inspect your feet carefully before you go to the salon. If you have any cuts or wounds, don’t go until you’ve fully healed.
Avoid shaving your legs just before getting a pedicure. You might cause small cuts and nicks that you might not see or feel.
Also avoid getting a pedicure at the salon if you have an existing fungal infection. It can make the infection worse and you might spread it to others.
3. Bring a Pedicure Kit, or At The Very Least, Your Own Polish
Some salons will let you bring your own pedicure kit for extra safety. Ask them what kind of kit you need to get and what tools it should have.
If you don’t want to carry your own pedicure kit, at least bring your own polish. Nail polish is one of the easiest ways to get fungus after a pedicure.
If the salon uses brand new polish for every customer, then you are safe. But if they use half filled bottles, imagine how many times a brush has been dipped into the bottle with different customers.
Carrying your own polish also ensures you get the exact colour and type of polish you want. Don’t forget to bring a brush as well.
4. After the Pedicure, Keep Your Feet Dry
Fungus thrives in warm moist environments. Keeping your feet dry reduces the risk of a fungal infection after a pedicure.
After you take a bath or go for a swim, dry your feet thoroughly, especially between your toes. Watch out for sweat as well. Wear shoes that are airy and moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry throughout the day.
5. Use Foot Baths to Reduce Risk of Infection
A foot bath can also reduce the risk of getting fungus after a pedicure. Keep the footbath under 30 minutes and completely dry your feet immediately after.
There are different kinds of footbaths for fungus prevention. An epsom salt soak is one of the best. The epsom salt draws moisture out of the skin, creating an unfriendly environment for the fungus to thrive.
Another option is an essential oil foot soak. Essential oils can prevent and treat foot and toenail fungus, thanks to their antifungal properties. The most effective essential oils are tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, and oregano.
Tip: You can also use essential oils if you suspect you already have a fungal infection. Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil like almond, argan, or coconut oil, then apply it directly on the infected area.
6. Do the Pedicure at Home
The only foolproof way to avoid getting fungus after a pedicure is to not go to the salon at all, especially if you know you get fungal infections easily. Get a pedicure kit and do your own pedicure at home. Here’s a video with a step-by-step guide. If you don’t have a foot spa like the one they use at salons, you can use a regular basin to soak your feet.
Keep in mind that you still need to properly clean and sterilise the tools you are using at home. Even if you are the only one using them, fungus and bacteria can still build up on the tools and cause an infection.
Most salons use an autoclave to sterilise nail tools. At home, 70% isopropyl alcohol works just as well. Dip your tools in the alcohol before you use them and again after you are done.
Most importantly, don’t share your pedicure tools with anyone else.
