Ensure your Nail Treatment is Safe

Consumer Information for Manicure and Pedicure Treatments

Last updated: 09 August 2011

Unhygienic practices within the Nail Industry may cause infections. Various fungal and bacterial infections are easily transmitted when nail technicians use dirty equipment on clients and more serious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C may be spread when un-sterilised instruments are used for skin penetration procedures.

To Prevent the Spread of Infections - check the following:

Equipment

• The Public Health (Skin Penetration) Regulation 2000 requires all instruments which penetrate the skin, such as cuticle clippers and razor scrappers to be sterilised or disposed of immediately after use (single use)
• Sterilised items should be packaged and should be opened in front of clients (See fact sheet "Sterilisation information for the skin penetration industry")
• To ensure that instruments have been sterilised, ask to see the steriliser or the sterilisation records
• An ultraviolet light 'UV' cabinet is not a steriliser. A TGA approved bench-top steriliser is an acceptable steriliser
• Nail files, emery boards and buffers must be cleaned and disinfected between each client or thrown away immediately after use (single use)
• Best practice is to use sterilised or single use instrument. Other materials which can not be disinfected or sterilised should only be used on one client -  'single use'
• 'Single use' equipment must be disposed of immediately into an appropriate waste disposal bin or sharps container

Premises

• Premises which conduct any skin penetration procedure must be registered with the local council
• The premises and equipment must be clean and hygienic
• There must be a hand wash basin with soap and single use hand towels
• The hand wash basin must not be used for equipment washing
• A separate wash area must be provided to wash equipment

The Nail Technician

• The technician should be trained in infection control practices and be able to display their certificate of attainment
• Single use gloves and a clean gown or apron must be worn by the technician when they are conducting any skin penetration procedure, such as cuticle cutting and razor scrapping
• The technician must thoroughly wash and dry their hands before and after attending a client
• Any cuts or abrasions on the technician must be covered with a water proof bandage

Foot spas

Foot spas may contain disease causing organisms which may enter though cuts, abrasions or open skin pores. To avoid this happening

• Ensure the foot spa is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use (see factsheet on "Cleaning and Disinfection of Foot Spas")
• Do not use a foot spa if you have any cuts, scratches or abrasions
• Do not use a foot spa within  48 hours of waxing or shaving your legs

See a Podiatrist, Medical Practitioner or Nurse if you have:

• A skin infection
• A medical condition causing inadequate blood circulation to the feet
• A condition requiring surgical removal of dead tissue from a wound or scar tissue of the foot
• Treatment which requires anaesthesia

Related information and links

• NSW Health website for skin penetration industry:  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/environment/general/body_grooming.asp