Are fish pedicures safe? There has been a growing popularity of the use of fish pedicures in spas as a way to receive a gentle pedicure while having the experience of getting it in a serene and quiet environment of watching fish gently swim around and nibble on your feet and lower legs. It is considered a luxury treatment and more people are searching out for fish pedicures but there is always the question “Are fish pedicures safe?”.
The fish themselves are quite safe and are not known to have any disease that they themselves carry and can transfer to a human. Another concern is about whether the nibbles of the fish to remove the dead skin from the feet during a fish pedicure could cause an infection. The fish commonly used in a fish pedicure are the Garra rufa or Cyprinion macrostomus. These are very small fish from the carp family and they are scavengers. They nibble away the dead skin on the feet and lower legs during a fish pedicure. The experience is described as gentle and ticklish at the most and never uncomfortable or painful. The reason the experience is gentle and comfortable is that these fish do not have teeth. Therefore they remove the skin more through suction and gentle friction of their mouths against the skin cells rather than real nibbling.
The use of these fish which are also known as kangal fish, doctor fish, and nibble fish have been used successfully for decades to treat the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. Both of these skin conditions occur due to an over growth of skin cells. The fish successfully nibble away the dead overgrowth of skin in these skin conditions and leave healthy skin exposed. It was due to the treatment for these skin conditions that it was considered the use of the fish would be helpful in a pedicure. They can also be used for a manicure. Since the use of these fish in a delicate and sensitive skin disorder has been deemed helpful and safe it should be safe for someone that is seeking the treatment for a simple pedicure that has healthy skin.
Of course in obtaining a fish pedicure a person is submerging their feet into the living habitat of the fish. If the fish are well cared for and the environment is healthy for the fish it is no more considered a health hazard for someone obtaining a pedicure than sticking their feet into a clean stream of water. Those with weak immune systems or diabetes may want to consult a physician before receiving a fish pedicure or any other pedicure treatment. In the case of transferring blood borne diseases between humans the likelihood of this is considered low to negligible by health authorities as the fish do not have teeth and the water would dilute any blood exposed by a pre-existing cut. The blood also would not adhere to the mouths of the fish. Again, since the use of the fish is widely used successfully to treat delicate skin conditions and is done so safely it is considered a safe procedure.
Some local area governments have been known to ban the services of fish pedicures. Some animal rights activists do not believe the fish are as well cared for as they should be by spa and salon owners. As with all personal services a patron should research the facility they are considering using for a fish pedicure. Examine if the fish are plentiful and healthy looking and if the staff is knowledgeable. Address your personal questions directly to the staff and determine if that facility and their fish pedicure is safe for you.