Women all over the world have one thing in common; they enjoy pampering themselves with waxing, facials and pedicures. However, there has been a “scare” of reports of many women developing bacterial infections from unsanitary tools and practices. The good news is there is no reason why you should give up these luxuries; you just have to be a little proactive in protecting yourself.
Did you know that some aestheticians are taught to double dip during waxing but it is actually illegal in many states? The skin has a small amount of bacteria in it naturally. Heated wax is a bacteria playground. The danger comes to play when the bacteria from the contaminated wax comes in contact with someone else who has a weak immune system. That person may not be able to fight off the bacteria and, therefore, an infection develops.
You can protect yourself from this by watching what the aesthetician does. Does she use a clean, sterilized applicator every time she dips into the wax? Is she wearing gloves to prevent cross contamination? Also, a new roll of paper should be rolled out for you to lay on.
Manicures and pedicures are a classic when it comes to pampering. However, if an infection develops, that one hour of pampering just turned into pain, nail fungus and six months with an ugly nail. The majority of nail salons use sanitation kits for their cuticle and nail clippers but some do not as they are a little on the expensive side and a hassle to use. If you see a sanitizer out in the open chances are it is being used. Also, if you can see that tools are kept in a plastic bag, the manicurist is obviously sanitation conscious. If all else fails, bring your own set of tools so that you know you are the only one who has used them.
Even with all of the talk of wearing sunscreen to protect against harmful rays, some women still go to tanning beds. Nevertheless, as long as these women are aware that tanning beds can cause cancers and premature aging, it is advisable to make sure the beds are very clean. Again, heat breeds bacteria and the bacteria can easily transfer from one person’s skin to another’s.
There are several benefits to having facials. Regular skin cleansing will leave the skin soft, even toned and with few to no blemishes. A problem can develop if the aesthetician is too forceful with extractions or does too many. This can lead to irritated skin, rashes and a worse problem with blemishes than before. In addition, some women have sensitive skin that can make this more of an issue. It is a good idea to let whoever is performing your facial of any allergies or sensitivities you have.
Some women have found benefit with chemical peels. The idea is to remove the top layers of skin to reveal the soft, undamaged skin underneath. If not done properly, there is a risk of burning and change in skin pigment. Everyone’s skin is a little different and it is best to see an aesthetician who specializes in skin anatomy and knows how the acids work.