How Your Pedicure Could Put You In The Hospital...

via: Megan McIntyre/Refinery29

No, we're not being over melodramatic — there are some beauty treatments out there that can literally put you in the emergency room. Or at least, that's what the New York Times says. According to a recent article, many popular summertime treatments like pedicures, waxing, and eyelash extensions can cause some pretty serious health scares, like infections, thermal burns, and hair loss. 

We've heard conflicting advice regarding cuticle cutting, but according to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist quoted in the piece, having your cuticles cut during a mani is a one-way ticket to a bacterial infection. "Cuticles serve a function," says Dr. Zeichner. "They protect the base of the nail from infections getting in there. I tell people just to have them pushed back."

Other scary surprising health hazards? Getting a pedicure while your heels are cracked apparently makes you more susceptible to infections from contaminated nail files and whirlpools. Gross. Also, inappropriately removed Shellac can result in the removal of layers of your nail, which is why CND is certifying nails salons that perform the service correctly. According the Times, in NYC that's only half of the 95 salons that currently offer the service.

The big takeaway here? Never sacrifice convenience for cleanliness. State laws require all manicure tools to be sterilized in hospital grade disinfectant for a minimum of ten minutes, so if your local mani/pedi nail shop seems to be more concerned about getting you in and out of the chair in record time, you might want to find a new spot. Trust your gut and if something doesn't look or seem clean to you, speak up. If the technician doesn't listen, get up and walk out. It may seem trivial, but many of these common treatments can cause some intense health problems, so take your primping seriously, people. ( New York Times)