Nail infections

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Hello, I'm Katrina Smith. I work in the area of public health regulation and policy in Australia. Is anyone aware of any evidence based research which illustrates that going to a nail (or beauty) salon increases the risk of infection (fungal, bacterial, or even viral)? There is a fair bit published on the risks of infection with non-tuberculous mycobacterial skin infections (NTM) from nail beauty therapy, especially pedicures, but I'm not aware of any articles that use prospective or retrospective randomised control trials, for example, to "up the ante" in this area. If there are any, or even some in the pipeline, it could really help regulators. Cost benefit analyses is really quite tricky when many available articles about NTM are case studies.

 

Hi Katrina Smith,

I'm not aware of any published research but if I get a chance I will have a quick look about. I know in the UK if you go to a reputable nail salon they should have good levels of hygiene . I would be interested if you find any evidence regarding the bioavailability of any organisms within the polish or on the brushes that are used?

 

Good point. We have done some surveys that involve swabbing of equipment with subsequent testing but this was quite basic. About all that could be said was that the growth of bacteria, fungi or yeasts was heavy, moderate or low. It would be very interesting to compare rates of onychomycosis in a group of healthy non diabetic adult women who have had pedicures, vs those who have not. It's probably not seen as enough of a public health problem to invest in research. However in a developed country, it's reasonable to expect that you can go to a beauty salon and have a treatment without equipment being contaminated. Probably the cost benefits of standards when considering hepatitis B and C are better established.