Hello everyone, I have to agree with Sam here...
We do not need to sterilize!! We do not need to because we are NOT
in an environment that needs it. The medical field does. Not us.
And also we CAN'T sterilize unless we have proper sterilizing equipment and procedures.....
"steam under pressure(autoclaving), dry heat
ovens,"(not uv sanitizers), "low temperature gas (ethylene oxide, and
liquid chemical sterilants." (Liquid sterilants are primarily used for
delicate instruments which cannot withstand high temperature and
gases. Gaseous and dry heat sterilizers are used primarily for
sterilization of medical instruments.)
.....and 99% of us DO NOT. And also you cannot sterilize your area. So your items are sterilized then you put them on your table, they are contaminated again. You touch them with your hands, contaminated. etc. etc. etc.
If you think about it if you have ever had surgery, the doctor is wrapped head to toe, the instruments are etc. We do not work in this type of environment, and we aren't performing surgery.
I do not believe that having an autoclave (or any sterilization device or procedure) and actually using it in any salon is 'good'. It just promotes the fear based marketing out there that we 'should' be sterilizing!
Clients will spread the word (and trust me it will travel like wildfire) that "they" go to a salon that "sterilizes with an autoclave"-- and other clients will think, "hmm, why doesn't my tech (or salon)
use one??"
It's BAD strategy, if you ask me, and will affect our industry SO
negatively- how will we be able to compete with that? How will we be able to professionally answer a client as to why "we don't have one (autoclave) and why we don't sterilize?"
In my opinion, it will make us (the techs without an autoclave) look bad, unprofessional, and not "up-to-par" with a regulation that
doesn't exist!
I certainly fear the day when a client asks me why I don't
sterilize, after all, I don't want to put another tech/salon "down" for using one, but in reality, they are completely unnecessary!
Sanitizing with soap & water, and full immersion in an EPA registered disinfectant or bleach solution (for the proper amount of time), is sufficient to prepare our tools and disinfectable abrasives for use. (A Bleach solution is equal to an EPA registered disinfectant- since it has been approved for use before the existence of the EPA, it is basically 'grandfathered' in and doesn't need an EPA number. --this info from Doug Schoon.)
Forgive me for sounding so 'emotionally upset' about this topic- it is RAMPANT here in the US- magazines and websites are promoting "sterilization in the Salon"- and it's OUTRAGEOUS, ridiculous and downright frustrating!
All I can hope is that we, and those that are recognized in our industry as experts on this situation, are doing whatever possible to silence this ridiculous notion.
PS- I'll join any fight against sterilization - 'sign me up'!!!
I received this information from a class I took with Doug Schoon at the
Chicago Midwest Beauty Show last February- covering sanitization/disinfection
and the guidelines of the Abrasive Safety Task Force:
Placing used implements/files in disinfectant does ABSOLUTELY nothing
(except contaminate your disinfectant!).
Sanitization is the most important step in thoroughly cleaning- it
significantly reduces the number of pathogens on the surface. (So... soap & water first
is a must!)
Disinfection kills pathogens on nonliving, hard surfaces.
-------------------------------------
POROUS ABRASIVES: nail files made of wood, paper or soft materials, buffers,
foot files, sanding bands, etc.
FOR POROUS ABRASIVES, use:
Bleach solution=10 mins. Total submersion, or
Isopropyl Alcohol (70%), or Ethyl Alcohol (90%), both require 15 mins. total
submersion.
***If the porous abrasive 'breaks down' after disinfection, then it is NOT disinfectable.
----------------------------------------
NONPOROUS ABRASIVES: Any metal or glass item.
FOR NONPOROUS ABRASIVES use:
EPA Registered hospital-grade/pseudomonacidal, bactericidal, virucidal,
fungicidal, tuberculocidal disinfectant, OR bleach or alcohol solutions (since
these items have been around since before the EPA Registration of
Disinfectants-they do not need to be 'registered'!)
So ... in all actuality--- you can just use a bleach or alcohol solution in your salon
for ALL surfaces (porous or nonporous)... you don't NEED a separate "EPA
Registered Disinfectant"!
--------------------------------------------
If a file or nonporous item falls apart or 'breaks down' in your sanitize/disinfect
process---- then IT IS NOT disinfectable UNLESS you use ONLY the bleach solution or alcohol
for the required submersion time.
--------------------------------------------
Since Sanitization is the most important step- that's the 'cleaning'- many
wonder
"Why Disinfect?"
1- To give clients piece of mind (all that 'fear based marketing' out there
has given clients the idea that we "need" to disinfect--however there is no
scientific basis for this existing requirement)
2- To prevent spread of colds, flu, fungal & bacterial nail infections
Regarding Disinfectants-
"What kind to use?"
PHENOLICS- Expensive, NO SINK DISPOSAL, item MUST be rinsed after submersion,
NO skin contact (sanitize first, then immerse 10 mins, then rinse, then air
dry, then dry (not air tight) storage.)
QUATS- Cheaper, Sink disposal, NO rinse, NO skin contact (sanitize first,
then immerse 10 mins, then air dry, then dry (not air tight) storage.)
So it is your choice on which type of disinfectant to use!
Please be aware however, if you are using a Phenolic type disinfectant- it is
poisoning our water system if you dispose of it down the drain/toilet.
Easiest & safest way to dispose of phenolics is to pour into kitty litter so
it solidifies, then double trash bag.
(Hate to think how long that takes to break down in a dump)
Oh.. another good tidbit -- Bacteria/Viruses need water to survive!
So there is no 'buildup' of bacteria in acrylic liquid, gel or polish (since
there's no water!)
I loved that class...Doug is so FULL of great info... just had to share!
Have a great day everyone! :biggrin: