nail salon risk?

[Scaredykat]

Hi Doctor, and thank you for taking the time to read and answer my question.  I've visited this forum before and have the utmost respect and admiration for you and what you do.

Here's my worry.  I went to a nail salon a couple of days ago and got a pedicure.  Nothing out of the ordinary occurred.  I'm just a worrier and always think the worst.  I read that you can catch hepatitis or hiv if the instruments were not properly sterilized.  I have no real reason to think that they were not, though I didn't actually observe it.  However, I'd just like to know what my risk is.  I did not receive any bleeding cuts during the pedicure...and when I got home, I put alcohol on my toes (which is all she really worked on) and there was no stinging due to broken skin.  I've been really worried about this and hope you can calm my fears.

Thank you so much, Doctor, and I hope you (and everyone in this forum) have a great weekend!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I am not aware that nail salons have ever been found (or even suspected) to be transmission sources for blood-borne infections.  I could be wrong here, but they clearly are not in the same category as tattoo parlors, ear-pearcing providers, and so on.  And even those now are very low risk in most areas of the country.  Birtually all health departments have enacted laws requiring certain sanitary standards and licensing, and in general the penalties for noncompliance are stern.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[ChicShane]

I read an article in the paper that most problems in salons like that have to do with soaking your bare feet in a hot water tub, try to avoid that next time you have a pedicure.