Question 1

What are Common Injuries That Happen at Nail Salons?

Accepted Answer

Beauty and nail salons and spas offer a wide range of services that provide much-needed relaxation to so many. However, the treatments offered are subject to serious health concerns if these establishments do not follow the proper safety procedures. Some of the most common injuries that happen at nail salons, etc. includes:

Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections from unsanitized equipment can include, but is not limited to:

HIV

Hepatitis

Flesh-eating bacteria

Staph

Strep

Warts (HPV)

Athlete’s Foot

Chemical burns from improper mixing or use of chemicals.

Wax burns from too high a temperature.

Ingrown toenails and fingernails.

Scarring from cuts, scrapes, burns, and infections.

Allergic reactions.

Wounds that bleed.

Boils and skin ulcers.

Blunt trauma to the head, torso, or extremities from slips and falls.

Question 2

What Causes Unsanitary Conditions at a Nail Salon?

Accepted Answer

Unsanitary conditions in nail salons are often caused by employees who are not properly trained. Some are not up to par with the standards that other nail salons and spas have set. Some common causes of unsanitary conditions include:

Reusing tools without sterilizing them.

Reusing tools that are porous and cannot be sterilized.

Recycling foot bathwater.

Using inferior products.

Cutting corners to save money.

Far too often, a nail salon will try to sacrifice safety for the sake of increasing its bottom line. Nail salon injuries can have far-reaching impacts not only for clients but for those around them, as well. No matter the cause, they are endangering themselves, their clients, and the general public and should be held responsible for their actions.

Question 3

How Can I Recognize Unsanitary Conditions at a Nail Salon?

Accepted Answer

It is almost impossible for you to know for sure if the salon is following all recommended guidelines to protect their customers’ health. However, there are a few things you should keep an eye out for that can give you clues to their dedication to safety:

Look for UV sterilizers and disinfectants. If you’re not sure, ask the technician to let you watch them sterilize the tools. If the tech gets an attitude, that is a huge red flag. It would be best to not take the risk and just leave at that point.

Ask them to open brand-new non-metal tools in front of you. Non-metal tools are porous and shouldn’t be reused on different customers.

Watch the other technicians and how they clean equipment after a customer is finished. If they’re not restocking fresh, sanitized items, you shouldn’t be there.

Ask the tech if they use pipeless foot baths. The older style contained pipes to circulate the water, which can harbor some nasty disease-spreading gunk. The newer models do not have these pipes. If they use the older type, ask how they sanitize the machines.

Watch the tech to see if they are wearing gloves and whether they wash their hands before and after a procedure.

Above all else, look closely at their license! It should be prominently displayed near the front of the salon. If you don’t see it easily, that is a big red flag.

You should never have to worry whether your chosen nail salon is keeping up with the health code. And you certainly shouldn’t have to suffer from infected nails because they simply refuse to treat them or sanitize them. This should be a red flag and should lead to further investigation into the management team at the nail salon.

It is important to report such problems to the Florida Department of Health. It’s not only poor business practice but also illegal to allow such practices to take place. However, it is all too easy for salons to get away with unsanitary and unsafe practices and you may never know about them.

Question 4

What are Common Nail Salon Infection Symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of an infection can vary depending on whether you contracted a bacterial, fungal, viral, or blood-borne infection. However, you will want to keep an eye out for some of the following:

Pain, redness, or swelling

Fever

Yellowing and thickening of nails

Peeling skin

Ulcers or sores forming that don’t go away

Oozing or weeping sores

Welts or other symptoms of an allergic reaction

If you experience anything out of the ordinary, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Be sure to document your diagnosis, treatments, and things you observed at the salon. This information will be extremely important should you decide to pursue a nail salon personal injury lawsuit.

Question 5

Can I Sue a Nail Salon for an Infection?

Accepted Answer

Anytime someone acts in a negligent manner that causes you damages, you have the right to pursue compensation. A nail salon infection lawsuit can be a tricky situation due to the complexity of each individual case. If you’re thinking about suing a nail salon for an infection, you will want to speak with a nail salon personal injury attorney immediately.

Nail salons have a duty of care to provide customers with a safe environment. To establish a case, you must prove that it was the salon that acted in a negligent manner. In short, you will need to show:

The salon should have reasonably foreseen that their actions (or lack thereof) could cause harm.

The managers and employees did nothing to try to prevent the injury from occurring.

Their inaction was the direct cause of your injury.

You suffered damages because of the injury.

Any time you have a salon procedure done, be sure to pay with a credit card so you have a paper trail. If you experience an adverse reaction, seek medical treatment immediately and keep all of your medical records. Try to gather photos or videos of hygiene practices at the salon as well as your injuries. The more documentation you can provide showing how you were injured, the stronger a case you will build.

Question 6

How Can I Protect Myself From Infections at a Nail Salon?

Accepted Answer

There are many things you can do to protect yourself and others from experiencing the terrible repercussions of nail salon injuries. Here are a few quick tips to avoid an infection from a nail salon:

Never have a procedure done if you have an active infection or open wounds of any sort. This includes bug bites, scratches, cuts, scabs, and even directly after shaving or waxing. These can leave tiny wounds on your skin where bacteria can collect and cause skin infections.

Cuticles are nature’s way of protecting our fingers from nasty things. Forget the need to have them clipped or pushed.

Bring your own tools for the tech to use. Sterilize them yourself before and after use.

Never allow the tech to shave your calluses. Instead, ask for a chemical soak followed by scrubbing.

If you’re having a permanent makeup or microblading procedure done, be sure the needle or blade is opened from a fresh package in front of you.

Can I Sue if I Get Injured at a Nail Salon?