Nail care services raise questions about their health safety, despite being one of the most popular beauty sectors worldwide, with the global nail care market estimated at around $23.5 billion.
While many people visit beauty salons for aesthetically pleasing nail treatments, recent reports from the Australian city of Perth have indicated suspected cases of infection linked to these services, reopening the debate about their potential health risks.
Several women in Perth told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that they contracted serious infections after visiting nail salons. The Western Australian Consumer Protection Authority also reported receiving eight complaints related to beauty salons this year.
These incidents have raised questions among some about the safety of continuing to visit nail salons, and whether the cosmetic benefits outweigh the potential health risks.
Nail salons operate in an environment where beauty technicians deal with a large number of clients in short periods, increasing the likelihood of infection if hygiene procedures are not strictly followed.
If a customer has a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection on their hands or feet, germs can transfer to tools or surfaces, and then to another person when they use them. This risk increases when tools and surfaces are not disinfected between customers.
The skin on the hands and feet is also more prone to skin problems, as it is thicker and more moist, creating a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi. The feet produce a significant amount of sweat daily, and this sweat is often trapped inside closed shoes, further increasing the likelihood of infection.
The risks are not limited to the transmission of germs only, but some of the care procedures themselves may contribute to weakening the skin’s natural barrier, such as cutting the skin around the nails, using chemicals such as nail polish and its removers, or even excessive polishing, which are factors that may cause microscopic scratches that allow infection to enter.
Soaking feet in water for extended periods can also increase moisture between the toes, creating a breeding ground for germs. Additionally, some tools, such as electric nail files, can scatter fine particles of skin and nails, contributing to the spread of microbes within the salon.
International studies indicate that some beauty salons may have surfaces and tools containing various types of bacteria and fungi.
A study conducted in Poland found that about 30% of toenail care basins contained Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria, a common bacterium that can cause serious complications if it enters the bloodstream.
Another study also showed that a large proportion of samples taken from the hands of beauty technicians contained types of bacteria that could cause serious intestinal diseases, such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.
However, these results still need further studies to confirm their applicability to nail salons in general.
In some reported cases in Western Australia, bacterial infection of the skin around the nails led to complications requiring removal of the infected nail, while other cases required hospitalization due to blood poisoning.
This infection typically begins with redness, swelling, and pain in the skin, and in some cases, it may progress to pus discharge. While most cases can be treated with antibiotics, neglect or a weakened immune system can lead to more serious complications such as permanent nail damage or deformity.
In rare cases, untreated infections may require surgical intervention or even amputation of infected tissue to prevent their spread.
Nail care sessions may also cause a fungal infection that appears as a change in nail color or thickening, and can last for several months before healing.
How can the risks be reduced?
Despite these potential risks, the chances of infection can be greatly reduced by adhering to strict hygiene procedures within salons.
This includes sterilizing instruments between clients, washing hands or using gloves, and regularly replacing single-use instruments. It is also advisable to check the cleanliness of the pedicure basin and change its cover after each use.
Steam sterilization methods are among the most effective compared to chemical methods or ultraviolet radiation.
However, these procedures can be expensive, which makes some low-cost salons less committed to them.
Despite the existence of general regulations for the beauty sector, nail salons are not always subject to strict, uniform regulation, which leaves a great responsibility on customers to choose salons that adhere to hygiene standards.
