Spring is here! Do you know what that means? It’s that time of year where salon business starts booming once again. Women of all ages take to the salons for manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and more. While they think they are having a therapeutic weekend treat, they’re actually putting themselves at risk for some serious diseases. Make sure you and you’re gal pals are aware of the dangers before your next salon visit.

Pedicures

I’m as big of a pedicure fan as the next girl however there’s a few things you can do to help prevent disaster from ensuing. Don’t shave your legs beforehand! As embarrassing as it may seem to get a calf massage with hairy legs, I can guarantee you the nail technicians have definitely encountered worse. When you shave directly beforehand you’re opening your pores and leaving tiny cuts and openings all over your legs... basically, they’re raw.

The infection Mycobacterium fortuitumis common to get from shaving prior to pedicures. Symptoms include large boils on the toe, foot or leg. These boils may be surrounded by smaller bumps. By letting the hair grow for a couple days prior to your salon visit it will help prevent infection and irritation. Another common danger is ingrown toenails that spawn from cutting the nails too short or unevenly. If you notice any signs of irritation or discomfort, contact your physician immediately.

Hair Appointments

News of the “Beauty Parlor Stroke” (a term coined within the medical world) is sweeping through the media right now. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a stroke directly correlated with salon visits. How? When someone is getting their hair washed in the salon sink, the position of the neck can cause hyper extension and even whiplash, which can result in torn or cut arteries.

“When one of those cervical arteries is damaged in some sort of way, you can get what’s called a dissection, which is damage of the inside of the blood vessel, leading to abnormal flow and clotting, and then those clots can shoot north into the brain and cause a stroke,” head of stroke research at Johns Hopkins Steven R. Zeiler, M.D., Ph.D., said. Pay attention to discomfort and alert your stylist immediately if your neck is experiencing any discomfort or strain. Post salon signs are numbness in any limbs, sudden weakness, inability to stand and more.

Manicures

A regular manicure can lead to infection, nerve damage, cancer, rashes, or in the most severe cases… amputation.

UV lights from gel manicures expose you to same type of radiation that a tanning bed does. Have your nails even felt like they were roasting in there? That’s because they are.

Infections are of the most typical health hazard of manicures. The surface of the nail can be filed to thin and lead to breakage, the skin can be nicked and the chemicals can seep into your body, and soaking nails in acetone repeatedly can lead to eye and lung irritation. If hands are not washed properly, the chemicals can come in contact with your face, eyes, and mouth and lead to further issues. When this infection is left to fester it can spread through your body, into your bone, and require amputation of fingers and toes.

You actually are allowed to bring your own tools to the nail salon for use to ensure cleanliness! If something seems off or hurts speak up! Nail salons are not mandated or monitored and typically anyone can open a nail salon and conduct malpractice. Use your instinct, if a salon feels cheap, dirty, or unprofessional do not subject yourself to possible harm. Lastly, research a nail salon if it’s your first time going and check the reviews.

On top of these main health concerns, there’s a ton of other diseases or complications that can occur, such as: MRSA, Swine Flu, Warts, Athletes Foot, and more. While I’m not trying to scare you away from nail salons, I do urge you to educate yourself and take precautionary steps to be safe. Spread the word… tell your mother, your brother, your cousin, your mother's cousin, and that random person you end up riding the elevator with tomorrow. Safety is important and these salon horrors are no joke.