The whole idea of a beauty treatment is to make you look and feel better and I myself am not adverse to the odd trip to the beauty salon for a treatment or two, and love a manicure, or even a pedicure. But so far I’ve never been brave enough to try a fish pedicure, but after reading about them in the Mail Online, I have to say I don’t think I’ll be giving it a go anytime soon!
Last month the Government’s Health Protection Agency warned that fashionable fish pedicures, where tiny Garra Rufa fish nibble away hard skin, could spread potentially deadly diseases.
If a customer already infected with a blood-borne disease such as HIV or hepatitis bleeds into the water in the tank, then there is a very small chance that the virus could be passed to another customer, either via the fish or the contaminated water tank.
To reduce risks, no one with open cuts should be treated and those with psoriasis or diabetes should avoid fish pedicures altogether. I wonder how strict the salons are though, when assessing customers? Or even if their own staff are trained to ask these questions of customers, let alone check whether they have such conditions.
We are all too aware of the dangers associated with bad waxing, which can leave people bruised and battered, or worse, with MRSA, and the potential problems caused by unhygienic practices in both hair and beauty salons such as head lice from dirty scissors, hepatitis C from unsterile scissors, nail infections from unclean clippers, the list is endless, but are we aware of how potentially life threatening some of these problems can be?
It is also worrying to think that hair and beauty salons are largely unregulated, unlike places where food is prepared and served, so putting customers more at risk.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or illness as a result of a beauty treatment or hair treatment, then we have expertise staff who can assist, call us for a free initial assessment on 01616 966 229.
By personal injury solicitor and Stephensons’ Partner, Kate Sweeney
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