Nail Salon Cleanliness - Style and Beauty Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close

The Dirt on Nail Salons

Follow these tips to keep a mani-pedi hygienic

Make sure your pedicurist has high standards before going to their salon. Istock Because it's low-cost and calorie-free, a mani-pedi is a start-of-summer pleasure that's hard to resist: Scanning the hundreds of polish colors, flipping through old magazines, looking forward to the massage — it's Chill Factor 9, right? Well, it was — until those recent social-media rumors about , and worse. So when I realized I was scrutinizing the cleanliness of the work stations at my customary salon rather than relaxing, I decided to seek an expert's advice. That led me to Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Zeichner had plenty of advice about how to keep your pampering pristine. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Trust your senses. Look around: Does your use hospital-grade liquid disinfectant? (That's the jar of blue stuff often used to soak clippers, metal cuticle pushers or nail files.) Does it use UV-light sterilizers (these look like toaster ovens) or high-tech autoclaves (futuristic pressure cookers) to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses? All of these pieces of equipment can be effective at combating infections, says Zeichner, "but only if they are of medical-grade quality." You can ask the manager if they're the real deal, but be aware that some salons are not above pretense: They may dilute the disinfectant, use sealed bags to create the illusion of sterilized tools, or operate outdated UV sterilizers that do little more than soap and water would. God proposes, woman disposes? Watch to see if disposable wooden tools — emery boards, pumices, orange sticks and the like — are thrown away between clients. The reason these are designated "single use," says Zeichner, is that they "may be contaminated with body fluids, potentially spreading infections from one person to another." A sneaky salon might spray with alcohol to make them look new, or recycle those "hot" towels you love without washing them between uses. So don't be wimpy about speaking up.
Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > Don't let anyone cut your cuticles. Request that your cuticles be gently softened, then pushed back — not cut. As Zeichner cautions, "Cuticles offer nail-protection boundaries. A nicked cuticle can lead to an infection known as paronychia — which, if not treated, can spread and lead to loss of the nail." Yikes! Toe the line. Problems caused by a pedicure may not become apparent right away. "Infections can take several weeks or months after exposure to show up," says Zeichner. in particular, he warns, can be "a breeding ground for fungi, bacteria and microbacteria, all of which thrive in pools of water. Unless the basins are properly cleaned with a for 10 to 15 minutes between clients, infections of the nails, toes and even the legs — some serious enough to require oral antibiotics or an IV drip at the hospital — can result." Finally, never shave or wax your legs just before a pedicure; this increases their susceptibility to infection. For more beauty and style tips for women 50-plus, check out and AARP's new , which is available for tablet. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS