MedClick

Who would have thought that we would pay money to have fish nibbling at our toes? The 'doctor fish' or Garras rufus has been conscripted in the war against unsightly feet by people with hard and dead skin on the sole of their feet.

The treatment originated in Turkey where the fish are naturally to be found in the river basins, and subsequently progressed to the Far East and from there to the rest of the world where this treatment is being offered as the ultimate pedicure solution!

Rid yourself of hard skin

The method employed to rid the feet of its undesirable hard skin is to completely submerge the feet into a tank of warm water which contains dozens of these ‘toothless’ minnow sized carp which constantly gnaw away at the hardened and dead skin for the duration of the 30 minute treatment resulting in smooth and soft feet. Clients who have experienced this treatment have stated that the rather odd sensation is that of being ‘tickled’ by ‘bubbles’, albeit not an unpleasant feeling at all!

Safe?

However, this relatively new and controversial treatment is causing some safety issues. Listed below are some points to consider before embarking on the treatment.

1.    Conditions such as verrucas and athlete’s foot may be spread from client to client.

2.    HIV and hepatitis viruses which are transported in the blood could potentially be passed on through the tank water.

3.    People suffering with Diabetes, weakened immune systems resulting from either an illness or medication and psoriasis are advised to keep away from fish pedicures totally, as these groups of people are more at risk from infections.

4.    A 24 hour wait is advised following shaving or leg waxing, and people suffering with any cuts or abrasions should not have this treatment until the cut has completely healed as Bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium marina can be transferred through broken skin.

Benefits

There are however, an array of health benefit claims such as improved circulation and stimulated blood flow due to the exfoliation process during treatment, and the marked improvement in foot odour problems. Although athlete’s foot may be considered a potential concern, some would suggest that the bacteria which causes the condition is removed by the garras rufus during treatment.

Another health assertion is that the fish can invigorate acupuncture points, thus relaxing the body, tiredness and helping to control the nervous system.

Safety

To ensure that the treatment is safe, beauty salons offering this ‘fish spa’ treatment are advised to examine client’s feet prior to and following treatment to ensure they are devoid of infections and cuts Clinic staff performing these essential checks are advised to accurately record all inspections carried out. Nail varnish should be removed and feet thoroughly washed and dried, and feet sprayed with an anti-bacterial solution before the treatment to reduce the risk of infection.

In conclusion the consumer must be able to make an informed choice regarding a pedicure, either the conventional treatment using files, scrubs and brushes or the gums and tongues of these bizarre ‘doctor’ fish.