A few days ago, news programs covered the story about Paula Abdul’s severe bacterial thumbnail infection http://zapgerms.blogspot.com/2004/06/paula-abduls-infection-highlights.html, which she acquired from being poked by dirty tools at a nail salon. She spent time screaming in pain in a hospital bed, and consequently had to have her thumbnail surgically removed.
Now she is calling on California state lawmakers to approve a bill to impose cleaner safety standards on the manicure business. I think that it is important for all states to pass a law that requires state inspections of all salons that provide manicure and pedicure services.
I paid special attention to this story since I have a problem with the thumb on my right hand, due to wearing French manicured tips last summer. I believe it is probably a fungal infection under my nail. I purchased anti-fungal nail treatments yesterday because I noticed that it has caused me to gradually lose my nail. The yellowing of my nail is moving lower and lower, which is causing my nail to separate from my skin. I have to keep cutting my nail shorter and shorter, as it continues to destroy my nail. It is becoming painful.
I wrote a journal entry http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/04/fake-nails-are-badmmmkay.html a few months ago urging people not to have acrylics or tips of any kind put on their nails. It really bothers me to watch women have tips put on their nails. I see them admiring fingernails that they think are sexy, while oblivious to the fact that they can do nasty damage to the nails that nature gave them—and make them sick. Moisture gets trapped under the fake nails causing fungus to grow, which not only destroys your nails, but is painful and ugly.
Paula’s story has made me concerned about my regular manicure and pedicure. Until now, I sat in the comfortable leather chairs believing that having my natural nails pampered was safe—I was wrong. Through watching this story I learned that the pedicure tubs that are found in most salons carry germs that are hard or even impossible to kill even with disinfectants. There are places behind these whirlpool foot baths that cannot be reached by cleaning fluids. This is the area in which the bacteria, germs, hair, skin cells and debris becomes clogged.
Another area of concern is that the tools that they use on your skin and nails need to be disinfected for at least ten minutes to be sanitary. I have observed the same tools being used from one customer to the next.
Also, new nail files should be used for each customer. However, I have noticed that the files they use on me are visibly worn.
I’m going to start doing my own manicures and pedicures, instead of going to the salon once a week. If I want a massage, I’ll go to the spa instead.
See Poked, Not Pretty here..
http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/07/poked-not-pretty.html
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