Top 9 Pedicure Do’s And Don’ts

When it comes to pedicure, it’s more than the nail lacquer and glitter. Before you go to the salon in to get a pedicure, consider these tips to avoid the most common mistakes.

Things to Do

1. Schedule a check with a physician before you get a pedicure if you have any health problems. An infection can interfere with healing and increase the risk for complications such as ulcers. Once you get the green light from a specialist, you should learn what to look for at the salon.
2. If possible, make a morning appointment. When salons are busy they have no time to clean the tools between clients so it’s better to be one of the first visitors.
3. It’s even better if you can bring your own nail kit with you. It’s especially important to bring instruments that can’t be sterilized such as nail files, pumice stones, foot files and nail buffers.
4. Speaking of pumice stone, always use it when you remove dead skin build-up. Soak feet in water and then use the stone and scrub to remove the skin.
5. Don’t cut nails short as it encourages ingrown nails and can lead to infection.
6. Use an emery board to smooth nail edges. Make sure to file lightly without scraping the surface of the nail.
7. Always use a wooden manicure stick to clean under the nails.
8. Gently remove cuticles with an orange stick. Never cut them or use sharp instruments under the toenails.
9. Apply creams and moisturizer to maintain the right moisture balance of the skin.

Things Not to Do

1. Do not shave your legs before the pedicure. Shaving leaves nicks in your skin and increases chances of infection.
2. If you’re getting both a pedicure and manicure, do not use the same tools as fungus can transfer between toes and fingers.
3. Do not use the foot razor to remove skin build-up. Sharp razors cause damage and increase the chance of infection.
4. Do not round your nails because it increases the risk of ingrown toenails.
5. Do not share emery board with friends and bring your own to nail salon if you’re not sure the salon uses a new one for each client.
6. Do not clean under nails using sharp tools. They puncture the skin and increase the chance of infection.
7. Do not leave your toes wet. Moisture increases the risk of nail infections and conditions such as athlete’s foot.
8. Do not cut cuticles as they protect your nails against infections and bacteria. When you cut cuticles, you increase the chance of infection. Do not push the cuticles back too often because it makes them thicker and harder to manage.
9. The common symptom of the fungus infection is discolored nails. Do not use the nail polish because it does not allow the nails to breathe and make the situation worse. If you have this problem, the only right decision is to contact a podiatrist and fix the issue.

If you are experiencing any problems with your feet or toes, or need a checkup, give us a call today at 301-937-5666 or click here to request your appointment online.