Having only just qualified in Nail Services SVQ Level 2, I seem to be rather confused as to who would treat someone with a blatant fungal infection and who wouldn't.

Text book says Fungal infection, Veruccae, Athletes foot are all GENERAL contra indications to a pedicure, and should be spotted during the initial examination of the foot before it goes in to soak, and should be referred to a GP for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

An obvious fungal nail infection, that has taken hold, would take months to treat, as the nail would have to grow out.

Please, before you say I don't know what I am talking about, I was a paramedic in the Navy for over 10 years, and have a great deal of knowledge in diagnosing these particularly common things.

My main reason for posting this is cross infection, of you, your tools, your foot spa, potentially future clients. All it takes is a slight lapse in concentration, and you could be facing a lawsuit?

Is there any defining body that says what we are allowed to treat and not to treat?? I know Habia have their standards, but is it still left to personal choice??

I personally would err on the side of caution when it came to a fungal nail infection, due to the length of time it would take to treat properly.

Anyone got any views??

OMG I have rambled!! Wake UP everyone

Hello All,
As a chiropodist I would be interested in hearing the answer to this, as I have had several patients with fungal nail infections who CLAIMED they got this infection following a pedicure at a beauty salon.
regards
Footwoman.

I'm sure if correct hygiene procedures are not followed a client could get an infection from a beauty therapist or a podiatrist, or a doctor or a nurse, it all depends on the individual involved and their procedures. What if the infection is non visible for example, this is why we should treat every client as a possible transmitter and clean our tools throughly.

I agree with weezie, that infections can be spread if correct precautions and methods are not followed. However, It would be interesting to know what 'salons' these clients are referring to. Are they genuine reputable high street/home based salons, or are they NSS which are already giving our industry a bad name, because they are not properly trained in anatomy/physiology, indications/contraindications and precautions, procedure, aftercare and hygiene?

Just about anybody nowadays can do a one off one or two day course in mani/ped and consider themselves qualified!

But then on the other hand, can these clients back up their 'claims' and be absolutely certain that this is how they developed an infection?

When I trained in my VTCT nvq 2 manicures and pedicures, we were always told that if any one had a hint of a bacterial infection or fungal infection then we were to strictly not to treat but to recommned they see their gp first. I suppose like all things, you always do things differently from how you did when you were training. I wouldnt go as far as cleaning puss yellow white gunk out though, yuk!xx

I am approaching the end of a 2 year HND in Beauty Therapy. The 1st year of the course was 4 days per week plus one late evening, and 2nd year has been 3.5 days with 1 late evening plus an additional 11 days salon experience.

1st year subjects covered in 1 semester (1/2 a year) were contemporary aesthetics (covered tanning, nail art, eyelash perming, ear piercing), facial treatments, face and body electrical, nail extensions, management and practice of body therapies, management and practice of facial therapies, indian head massage and make-up. The last 2 being optional as I had already did nail care and depilation.
1st year subjects over 2 semesters (1 full year) were human anatomy & physiology, (definitely dont just 'skim over' this), body massage and employment experience. In addition to this the HND now has a Graded Unit which is a practical and written piece of work over 1 semester which incorporates all subjects studied and instead of credits, student are graded an A, B or C.
2nd year subjects covered in 1 semester are electro-cosmetic therapy, lifestyle advice, spa treatments, product knowledge and principles & practice of selling. 2 semester subjects are contemporary electrotherapy, graded unit, aromatherapy, reflexology and preparing & presenting a business plan.

I was an information/office manager for 7 years before deciding to do Beauty full time and I've got to say this is the hardest thing i've ever done. It's not the subjects that are hard but the sheer volume of work is overwhelming at times because of course like everyone, in order to pay the bills I have to also work 25-30 hours per week on top of college hours and study time. Now that the moans over i would also say i absolutely love beauty therapy and have no regrets .

A high school student told her science teacher she was thinking of doing the Beauty Therapy HND to which he replied 'you're better than that'. Idiot!!!

Footwoman this thread is from 2007 although very relavant today many things in the industry have changed.

Hi all,
Some of the postings are recent.
Thought this was a newish thread.
regards
Footwoman.
(confused)

Prior to any proceadure I would examine client's feet for problems like verucas and fungal infection. If you notice any of these I would advise client on treatment available in farmacies or simply advise to go to the GP as you can not treat their condition. But for example all other problems like ingrowth, corns etc I treat myself and have clients that bring me regular and very good income but I must add that I have a traing which falls in between pedicuris and chiropodist so I know how to deal with such situations..
Through my carrier in UK and abroad I have met quite few pedicurists who did not enjoy their job. I find pleasure by being able to help people and more problematic feet I get more excited I get as it receive feeld for work and thought and also pleasure for helping people.
By the sound of it your client had one of fungal skin infection. This should have been visible prior to the proceadure. With older peoples feet you have to be careful as some of them have thinned and easily breaking skin due to poor circulation even if they don't have diabetis, and I wouldn't advise to trim cuticules on toes just gently push it as older girls can get infections easier if they wear shoes without socks...

Most of people who end up with skin problems at any time in their life are tempted to blame them on any beauty proceadures undertaken in the past. As a chiropodist you know that fungal infection can be cought in i.e. a shoe shop by trying shoes on without socks...But they don't rememeber that most of the time...