August 2015
Les manucures et les pédicures
A manicure is a beauty treatment for the fingernails and hands; a pedicure is a beauty treatment for the toenails and feet. Both involve using tools, creams, oils and wax to improve your cuticles and clean, shape and polish your nails.
Since manicure and pedicure tools can become contaminated with bacteria, fungi and blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, it is important that they are cleaned and disinfected using proper procedures prior to reuse, or depending on the tool, some tools should not be reused. You can also protect yourself from hepatitis B by being vaccinated. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C or HIV.
Before you consider a manicure or pedicure, be sure that you don’t have a skin or nail infection. You could spread the infection to your nail technician or other clients. It is important to get a manicure or pedicure from a salon inspected by public health. Toronto Public Health inspects all known nail salons annually to make sure they are taking the right steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. You can contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 if you are uncertain that a salon is inspected or would like to know about the inspection history.
Go to a salon that is inspected by your local public health unit. When a foot bath is used as part of a pedicure service, avoid shaving your legs to reduce your risk of getting an infection.
Your nail technician should undertake the following infection prevention steps as well:
A complaint about infection control practices in a nail salon, in the City of Toronto, can be made by using our online BodySafe Complaint Form or by calling TTY 416-392-0658. All complaints are confidential and can be anonymous.