Doctor fish

[Sheshefran]

Where is the best place to get a Dr. Fish pedicure? How long do they usually last?

[JohninDC]

Mr. Sanchos offers this - I have never investigated costs or duration. Try their web site.

[Megan_Strick]

Noooo don't do it. It's not hygienic and you can have issues. The foot baths can not be sanitized between people so if someone has the funk you can get it too!

[Robinola]

I do not believe it is dangerous at all. Research indicates a ultra high tech with uv lighting. I have never seen a post that indicated otherwise.

[Megan_Strick]

I do not believe it is dangerous at all. Research indicates a ultra high tech with uv lighting. I have never seen a post that indicated otherwise.

 

Straight from the CDC website

 

What is a fish pedicure?

 

A fish pedicure, also known as a fish spa, involves patrons dipping their feet in a tub of water filled with small fish called Garra rufa. Garra rufa are sometimes referred to as “doctor fish” because they eat away dead skin found on peoples’ feet, leaving newer skin exposed.

Garra rufa are native to the Middle East, where they have been used as a medical treatment for individuals with skin diseases, like psoriasis (1). One study has illustrated the effectiveness of fish pedicures in the treatment of psoriasis; however, this treatment was performed in a controlled setting at a medical university in Austria, not at a nail salon (2).

CDC is not aware of any published reports on illnesses resulting from fish pedicures. Nail salon foot baths, however, have caused outbreaks of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections that left infected pedicure customers with boils and scars (3).

Why have some states banned the use of fish pedicures?

 

Each state has the authority to ban fish pedicures. Currently, over 10 states have banned the use of fish pedicures.

Most of the bans are based on at least one of the following reasons:

• The fish pedicure tubs cannot be sufficiently cleaned between customers when the fish are present.
  
• The fish themselves cannot be disinfected or sanitized between customers. Due to the cost of the fish, salon owners are likely to use the same fish multiple times with different customers, which increases the risk of spreading infection.
  
• Chinese Chinchin, another species of fish that is often mislabeled as Garra rufa and used in fish pedicures, grows teeth and can draw blood, increasing the risk of infection.
  
• According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Garra rufa could pose a threat to native plant and animal life if released into the wild because the fish is not native to the United States.
  
• Fish pedicures do not meet the legal definition of a pedicure.
  
• Regulations specifying that fish at a salon must be contained in an aquarium.
  
• The fish must be starved to eat skin, which might be considered animal cruelty.
  
• 
  

[JohninDC]

I've stepped in a lot of things, but after reading this I am sure I will never step into a fish pedicure! :eek:

[nascarcruiser]

I've stepped in a lot of things, but after reading this I am sure I will never step into a fish pedicure! :eek:

I agree. We've seen people doing it but after reading the same CDC info as posted about certain states banning it for the given reasons. Not worth it to me:rolleyes:

[Megan_Strick]

We are going to Coz in June to Mr. Sanchos and I told my daughter that I wanted to do one. She is the one that told me how nasty it was so I googled it. Can you imagine dead skin floating around?:eek: