Health

Is it safe for me to wear acrylics if I do a lot of pedicures and my hands are constantly in dirty water?

February 28, 2006 | Bookmark +

I am a nail technician who does a lot of pedicures. My hands are constantly in dirty water. Is it safe for me to wear acrylics? Am I more likely to develop a nail infection?

Answer

Nail infections should occur very rarely, regardless of the conditions that hands find themselves in. When nail infections occur, it’s generally because of improper preparation, application, or maintenance and is certainly not caused by performing pedicures. If artificial nail enhancements of any type are properly applied and maintained, there is virtually no risk of developing an infection from water in pedicure tubs. Infections develop because either the nail surface is not properly prepared before applying the product or lifting occurs and bacteria seeps underneath the enhancement. Lifting can easily be prevented by properly preparing the nail plate, applying the enhancement product correctly, and then properly maintaining the enhancements on a regular basis.— Doug Schoon is vice president of science and technology for Creative Nail Design (Vista, Calif.).

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What’s the cause of the pinkish-red oval area on the pad of my client’s toes?

I have a client who has a recurring problem with her fourth toes during the winter months. Both of her “ring finger” toes develop a pinkish-red oval area on the pad. Then a month later, when I see her again, the skin has become dry and hard like a callus, with the layers of skin peeling away to reveal a deeper, dark epicenter.  It’s extremely painful for her and, needless to say, we do not touch it. But it clears up in the summer when she’s wearing open-toed sandals, so I suspect it has to be due to the boots she wears in the winter. Plus she never puts lotion on her feet or uses a foot file in between visits. What do you think causes this?

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What are the big white spots on my natural-nail client’s nails?

I have a client who has been with me for about two years. She used to wear acrylic nails but has been a natural nail client for eight months or so. She has these white spots on her nails — big spots that are dry, but not flaky, right in the middle of the nail. I did try to buff them lightly but they do not come off or grow off. I had a new client come in last week who had the same on her toenails. She said it started after she had a pedicure done at another salon. Can you help?

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