Tuesday 29 May 2012
English eat fish and chips, fish eat English feet!
Completely new at the end of 2010, fish pedicures are now a hot trend in Britain. Last year, more than 280 fish foot spas have been listed in the UK and this number increases every week since then. This is not to mention the beauty salons that have bought a fish foot spa to accompany their usual services. They even featured in this season's hit TV series The Apprentice!
In fact, CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) reports that 15,000-20,000 Garra Rufa Fish are currently being imported into the UK, weekly!
However, this trend could end quicker than expected as many experts warn about the possible harmful health implications of such treatment. Banned in 14 states across the USA, this practice is gaining a reputation as unhealthy and even dangerous for people.
That kind of pedicure, officially known as "ichthyotherapy", consists of placing your feet in tanks of water containing dozens of Garra Rufa, an Eurasian river basin fish. The "Doctor Fish", as nicknamed in the UK, then feeds on your dead skin offering you exfoliative benefits. Yummy!
This concept is currently booming and one of the main reasons for this is the pure novelty. It's natural, new and exotic - in short, it's the perfect recipe to attract clients. It's true that, on the paper, everything sounds to be reunited to make you spend a relaxing moment.
After ‘fishing’ up some research, there are however some negative reviews and side-effects of seeing Doctor Fish!
Would you share a foot bath with a complete stranger, not knowing how hygienic they are or how clean their feet are? More seriously, would you rub toes with someone suffering from a verruca, fungal infection or other contagious disease? Probably not!
Dr Paul Cosford, director of health protection services at the HPA, says the risks are very low if spas follow “strict standard of cleanliness”. That is a big IF! It’s not that we are accusing anyone of purposely being following unhygienic practices but on a busy day, do you really have time to ensure that the tank is cleaned after every client? It’s the price of doing so as well as the time! Assuming there is minimal risk for a healthy individual, it is far more dangerous for those already suffering from an injury that has not fully healed. This sounds severe but could just mean a blister from wearing those very high heels!
So, those are the side-effects that can result from person to person. There is also evidence to suggest potential health issues deriving from the ‘Doctors’ themselves (the fish, not the beautician). CEFAS notes that in April 2011, 6,000 fish imported from Indonesia were affected by a disease outbreak that caused all the fish to eventually die (I won’t go into details).
If you are offering that kind of treatment in your salon I would love to hear your opinion about those reports. All the articles I have read were against that kind of pedicure. Are they only highlighting the negative effects and avoiding the positive ones? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
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