There is a video online this morning, from the show, and this accompanying article, focusing on the death of Kimberly Jackson, from an MRSA infected pedicure bath. I think the article is the transcript from the video, in case you can’t see the video - if not, it is very similar.
ABC News: Drug-Resistant Staph Tops Group’s ‘Hit List’
Once again, PLEASE make sure that if you are getting salon pedicures, to make sure your nail tech is not using a tub with plumbing, and make sure that whatever they are using is properly santitized. To learn more about MRSA and antibiotic resistant infections, see my other web sites at MRSA Resources, MRSA Forum, MRSA Blog, and you can read our personal story at MRSA Story.
Also, antibiotic resistant bacteria can be picked up easily from athletic facilities and simply from contact with other people. To protect yourself, follow basic hygiene rules: Wash your hands frequently, do not share personal items, and cover your wounds and avoid contact with other peoples wounds. Also, eat right and get plenty of rest so your immune system stays in tip top shape and visit your doctor regularly for checkups and routine bloodwork that can give you a heads up if you have any immunosuppressant illnesses that will give this bacteria an opportunity to thrive in your body.
I ran across this article over the weekend:
From Dallas, WFAA.com:
Hall is among several women who confirmed to News 8 that after they got pedicures in whirlpool foot spas at Beverly Hills Nails, skin infections broke out on their legs.
Dallas County Health and Human Services confirmed there is a complaint against the salon.
Beverly Hills Nails manager Victoria Tran said state regulators came in and took water samples for tests that are not yet back. “But we’re not 100 percent sure that it’s from unsanitary of the whirlpool, or if it’s caused by something that they have done or happened before,” Tran said.
An aggressive bacteria can grow quickly in water if a whirlpool foot spa is not cleaned frequently.
The bug enters the skin through shaving cuts or abrasions. The infection leads to painful lesions that can last for months and leave scars.
Doctors call the drug resistant staph bacteria MRSA—methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.
As a nail tech, I can tell you that I am 99.99% sure it IS due to the pedicure units. You can read more about my thoughts at eBeautyDaily if you are interested. This is one huge reason that I have written all of these techniques down for you to learn. MRSA is not a bacteria to fool around with - take it from one who knows. My husband nearly died from MRSA a year ago, after a shave. Go read that article and look at the picture of what MRSA can do to you. It is too disgusting to show here. And that is if you are lucky.
I’ll finish up the paraffin section tomorrow, then we will get straight in to how to do your own pedicures. Good stuff!
Put a nice large towel or some newspaper down to cover your workspace. Paraffin doesn’t damage things too much, but it is a pain to scrape off the inevitable droplets. Using whatever appliance you have chosen to warm your paraffin, turn it on, and make sure it is on the lowest setting. Add your block of paraffin if it is not already in there. If you are using a very small crock pot or potpourri warmer, one or two blocks of paraffin should do, but keep in mind, the less paraffin that is in there, the warmer it is going to get. I find it much better to keep the warmer nearly full, adding more when I am finished with my treatment. I have a dedicated crock pot for my paraffin, so it stays in there all of the time, but you can always slip it out after it has hardened (let the paraffin totally harden, then turn it back on for a minute or two, then slip out the block of paraffin), wash your crock pot, and use it for its regular use. Add some oil to your paraffin, but not too much. A ratio of no more
than 1:10 (oil to paraffin) is good. Also add a few drops of your preferred essential oil-again my preference is lavender, but use whatever you like, making sure it is safe to use on your skin. Allow at least a half hour for your paraffin to melt, you will have to determine this by experience. I turn mine on at the beginning of my Spa Manicure, and it is about ready when I am ready to use it. Pull out 2 sheets of plastic wrap, about 2 feet long apiece, and set them to the side.
You probably don’t know this yet about me, but I am a huge stickler for sanitation, made even more paranoid about it because of my husband’s near fatal battle with MRSA last year. One of the truly great reasons for doing your own nails is the avoidance of bacteria that will thrive in a salon unless very stringent precautions are in place and followed. Did you know that the procedure for sanitizing a pedicure bath is very intensive and time consuming, and that many salons out there are not doing it properly? The jacuzzi type footbaths are nearly impossible to keep disinfected because of their plumbing. Anyhow, about disinfectants:
You can purchase your disinfectant at the beauty supply (the one you will find most readily is called Barbacide), or you can use rubbing alcohol. The advantage of the beauty supply disinfectant is that it will not cause your tools to rust, where alcohol can. Be sure and follow the directions that come with your particular disinfectant, and if you use alcohol, soak your tooks in it for 10 mnutes, and then rinse them off with water and be darned sure you dry them off completely. Then, store them in your tupperware container. Also be sure to spray your surfaces (pedicure tubs) after using them as well–let the disinfectant/alcohol sit for 10 minutes (or according to package directions) then wipe down with a clean paper towel and store. You don’t have to worry as much about your own bacteria, your body is used to dealing with it, but a good disinfecting routine will never hurt you, and might just protect you if you were to cut yourself at some point. Be absolutely sure to disinfect if you are sharing your tools with anyone, even a family member. You want to do it to protect them as much as yourself.
Artificial Nails,
Cautions,
Manicures,
pedicures,
Sanitation,
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