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26 Bones Foot Spa was established by Austin podiatrist Carla Emery-Culberson, DPM, MPH, PA to provide women with medically-safe pedicures and manicures. As a podiatrist, she has treated women who developed medical problems, including infections, rashes and painful fissures after they had received pedicures at spas and nail parlors where equipment was not sterilized and nail technicians did not take other precautions essential to ensuring their health and safety. (There have been instances of women dying from medically-safe pedicures. For example, in 2007, a Texas woman died of a staphylococcus infection that she contracted after a pedicure. Also diabetics who receive medically unsafe pedicures are at risk for amputation.)
Rather than cutting or scraping rough skin, the staff at 26 Bones Foot Spa will soften and condition your feet using moisturizers and exfoliants. When their skin is especially rough, some clients also receive microdermabrasion.
Another way that 26 Bones Foot Spa keeps you safe is by never applying acrylics to your nails. Instead, our nail technicians take time to enhance your natural nails. Acrylics contain methyl methacrylate (MMA), a dangerous chemical that can not only damage the surface of your nails, possibly leading to infection and irreversible damage, but also cause rashes, nerve damage and the loss of nails. Over time, this chemical can even damage the kidney and liver, and harm fetuses. Although Federal Drug Administration has banned the use of MMA, some nail salons continue to use it.
Check out the article about 26 Bones Foot Spa on page 46 of the December issue of Austin Woman, www.austinwomanmagazine.com.
- Keep your feet clean and dry. Healthy feet start with good hygiene. Thoroughly clean and scrub your feet with soap and water when you bathe. Afterward, dry them well. Fungal organisms love moisture, so depriving them of any wetness will make it more difficult for them to thrive.
- Examine your feet for problems. Once a week, take a good look on the soles for any scaling and between your toes for peeling areas. Also look for discoloration of the nails.
- 3Cut toenails properly. Cut nails straight across and avoid trimming too close to the skin or drastically rounding the corners of the nails, which can cause painful, ingrown toenails.
- Don't hide "ugly" toenails with polish. A discolored, thick, cracked, or crumbling nail could signal a nail fungus. Applying nail polish to an infected nail could make the problem worse.
- Protect your feet in public areas. Be sure to wear shower shoes at the gym, in locker rooms, and at public pools.
- Avoid sharing shoes and socks. This includes rentals.
- Head off sweaty feet. Your feet have sweat glands galore - 250,000 in each foot! Perspiration creates the perfect environment for bacteria to set up shop. Wearing socks that keep feet dry will help your feet stay healthy. Also avoid wearing excessively tight pantyhose, which trap moisture.
- Choose breathable footwear. To help keep your feet dry and healthy, wear shoes made of leather to allow air to circulate. If you're prone to excessively sweaty feet, look for shoes made of mesh fabrics for maximum breathability.
- Wear shoes that fit properly. Choose a broad, rounded shoe with plenty of room for your toes and a wide, stable heel. Avoid pointy shoes, which can cramp your toes and cause ingrown toenails and calluses.
- Know when to see a doctor. Don't attempt to self-treat painful foot woes. Allowing a doctor to take a look will help prevent minor problems from becoming major ones.
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