Planning a visit to a nail salon? Be wary of the risk of skin infections. Visit our urgent care clinic today for treatment.
Whether you’re treating yourself after browsing the shops in downtown Athens or unwinding after a stroll through Heritage Park, a visit to your favorite nail salon can be the perfect way to relax. With several locally loved spots for manicures and pedicures around town, like those near White Street or close to the Market Park Pavilion, it’s easy to fit a little self-care into your day.
But here’s something most people don’t think about: could your relaxing nail appointment actually make you sick? Unfortunately, if a salon doesn’t follow proper sanitation procedures, you could end up with more than just freshly polished nails. You might walk out with a skin infection.
How Can Nail Salons Spread Skin Infections?
It all comes down to cleanliness. When tools, surfaces, or soaking tubs aren’t properly sanitized between clients, they can harbor bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. Here’s how infections can spread:
- Reused or poorly cleaned tools: Nail clippers, files, cuticle pushers, and buffers can carry bacteria from one person to the next.
- Improperly sanitized foot baths: If not cleaned thoroughly after each use, these can harbor fungi and bacteria that thrive in warm, moist environments.
- Use of sharp tools: Cutting cuticles or removing calluses with shared blades or razors can break the skin and open a path for germs to enter.
- Skin-to-skin contact: Technicians who don’t wash their hands or wear gloves when necessary can transmit infection through direct contact.
What Types of Skin Infections Can You Get?
A few of the most common infections linked to salon visits include:
- Cellulitis: A potentially serious bacterial infection that causes redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the skin. It usually develops quickly after bacteria enter through a break in the skin.
- Fungal infections: Things like athlete’s foot and nail fungus can be picked up from unclean foot baths or tools.
- Warts: Caused by viruses like HPV, warts can spread through shared tools or towels.
- Paronychia: This is an infection of the skin around the nails, often caused by injury during manicures or aggressive cuticle trimming.
What Symptoms Should You Watch For?
After a salon visit, keep an eye out for any of these signs:
- Redness, swelling, or warmth around the nails or skin
- Pain or tenderness at the site of a cut or scratch
- Pus or fluid-filled blisters
- Thickened, discolored nails
- Itching, burning, or flaking skin – especially around the toes
If you notice any of these symptoms within a few days of your appointment, don’t brush it off. Some infections can worsen quickly and require prompt medical treatment.
How Can You Protect Yourself at the Salon?
You don’t need to skip salon visits altogether, just be smart about where you go and what to look for. Here are a few tips:
- Check for cleanliness: Make sure the salon looks clean and well-kept. Tools should be stored in sealed, disinfected containers.
- Ask questions: Don’t be afraid to ask how tools are sterilized or how often foot baths are cleaned.
- Bring your own tools: Some salons will let you bring your own nail file, clippers, or buffer.
- Avoid services that break the skin: Skip aggressive cuticle trimming or callus razors that can leave you vulnerable to infection.
- Don’t shave before a pedicure: Tiny cuts from shaving can open the door to bacteria in foot baths.
When Should You Visit Urgent Care in Athens?
If you notice signs of infection that are getting worse, or if you start feeling unwell – like running a fever or experiencing chills – it’s time to seek medical care. At AFC Athens, we treat a wide range of minor skin infections and can help prevent them from spreading or becoming more serious.
We offer quick, walk-in visits and convenient care close to where you live, shop, and work in Athens, so you can get back to feeling better fast.
