Be particular about your pedicures

With the soon-to-be arrival of warmer weather, the need for beach-ready toes is at an all-time high. For many people, this includes scheduling an appointment for a pedicure at their local nail salon. It is a great time for rest and relaxation, but can the doctors at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center, caution you on how you make your selection? A fungal toenail infection is one negative consequence of picking the wrong nail salon. Ask yourself these questions.

Have you been to this salon?

If the answer is “yes,” you’re starting off with some experience and background about the salon. Things can change, but overall, you know what to expect and are aware of the salon’s standards. If your answer is “no,” what made you choose this salon? The answer can range from reviews to recommendations from friends or co-workers. Perhaps you noticed a grand opening in your neighborhood.

Are your feet ready for this environment?

If you recently discovered a cut on your feet or ankles, or if you have an infected ingrown toenail, we recommend that you avoid this type of environment. You are either walking a fine line toward infection or potentially worsening one that already exists. As you submerge your feet and ankles in water, you want to be sure that you leave no room for bacteria to enter.

Have you recently had a fungal toenail?

Be mindful of your neighbors, especially in a community space such as a nail salon. A fungal toenail infection is caused by an organism that begins to grow under or inside your nail. This organism can stay in the nail for many years if left untreated. Most importantly, it can be passed along to others.   

Check your foot health before making that appointment and meet with someone from our board-certified team at PodiatryCare, PC and the Heel Pain Center. Here’s our team: Dr. Robert Marra, Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and Dr. Matthew Tschudy. We have two locations in Hartford County: 1379 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT, and 1350 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, CT. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.