nail salon

Hi doctor -

Quick question. I was at a nail salon last night and wasn't paying attention as the technician was cleaning under my nails with a wooden instrument. When she had finished I glanced at it and it looked like it had blood on the tip (not mine). I asked her about it and she looked apologetic and quickly threw it away. She was digging pretty deeply under my nails.  Is there any risk of exposure if it was in fact blood? Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  While your nail technician certainly should not be re-using these materials, there is no risk for HIV from the exposure you describe.  Even though it sometimes feels otherwise this sort of activity does not break the skin and therefore is not risky.  Furthermore and probably more important. Even in the unlikely circumstance that the person whom had been worked on prior to you had HIV, the virus does not survive long enough outside of the body to be transmitted on inanimate objects.  You have no reason for concern and no reason to need testing related to the events you describe.

Take care.  EWH