Health

I have a new client coming in and he told us he has athlete's foot. How should I deal with this? Can I work on his feet?

December 21, 2010 | Bookmark +

I have a new client coming in and he told us he has athlete's foot.  How should I deal with this?  Can I work on his feet?

Answer

Advise him to seek professional medical treatment for the condition and reschedule the appointment after the condition has been resolved. Nail professionals are only allowed to service healthy nails and skin free from visible signs of infection or other medical conditions. It is against federal law for nail technicians to perform salon services on a client’s feet if they appear to be visibly unhealthy. Nail professionals are not allowed to diagnosis, treat, or prescribe treatment for any unhealthy medical condition and this is true for all 50 states. No matter what level of training a nail professional may possess, without a medical or podiatry license, nail professionals are not allowed to perform any services on unhealthy feet. All that can legally be done is to inform the client he has a visibly unhealthy condition on his feet and then direct him to see a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and to receive any required treatment.

The only exception would be nail professionals working under the direct supervision of a licensed doctor or pediatrist in their medical office, and that licensed medical person is assuming full responsibility for the patient’s care.  Clients can’t give nail professionals permission to break this federal law. Not only can the professional lose her license and irreparably harm the reputation of the salon, improper actions could result in legal action against the salon and nail professional. -- Dough Schoon is chief scientific advisor for CND

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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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