Whether you like to get a pedicure in the nail salon or perform your own pedicure at home, please follow these easy Dos and Don'ts provided by the American Podiatric Medical Association to keep your feet looking and feeling their best.

Dos

• If you have diabetes or poor circulation in your feet, please contact our office, 216-459-8616, for a recommendation on a customized pedicure that you and/or your salon can follow for optimal foot health.
• Schedule your pedicure first thing in the morning. Salon foot baths are typically cleanest earlier in the day. If you're not a morning person, make sure that the salon filters and cleans the foot bath between clients.
• Bring your own pedicure utensils to the salon. Bacteria and fungus can move easily from one person to the next if the salon doesn't use proper sterilization techniques.
• When eliminating thick, dead skin build-up, also known as calluses, on the heel, ball and sides of the feet, use a pumice stone, foot file or exfoliating scrub. Soak feet in warm water for at least five minutes, then use the stone, scrub, or foot file to gently smooth calluses and other rough patches.
• When trimming nails, use a toenail clipper with a straight edge to ensure your toenail is cut straight across. Other tools like manicure scissors or fingernail clippers increase the risk of ingrown toenails because of their small, curved shape. Please contact our office for an appointment if you have a tendency to develop ingrown toenails.
• To smooth nail edges, use an emery board. File lightly in one direction without using too much pressure, being sure not to scrape the nail's surface.
• Gently run a wooden or rubber manicure stick under your nails to keep them clean. This helps remove the dirt and build-up you may or may not be able to see.
• Maintain the proper moisture balance of the skin on your feet by applying emollient-enriched moisturizer to keep soles soft.
• Make sure to remove polish regularly using non-acetone nail polish remover.

Don'ts

• Resist the urge to shave your legs before receiving a pedicure. Freshly shaven legs or small cuts on your legs may allow bacteria to enter.
• If you are receiving a pedicure and/or manicure, don't use the same tools for both services as bacteria and fungus can transfer between fingers and toes.
• Although certain salons offer this technique, don't allow technicians to use a foot razor to remove dead skin. Using a razor can result in permanent damage if used incorrectly and can easily cause infection if too much skin is removed.
• Don't round the edges of your toenails. This type of shape increases the chances that painful ingrown toenails will develop. 
• Emery boards are extremely porous and can trap germs that spread. Since they can't be sterilized, don't share nail files with friends and be sure to bring your own to the salon, unless you are sure that the salon replaces them with each customer.
• Don't use any sharp tools to clean under nails. Using anything sharp makes it easy to puncture the skin, leaving it vulnerable to infection.
• Be sure that you don't leave any moisture between toes. Anything left behind can promote the development of athlete's foot or a fungal infection.
• If you suffer from thick and discolored toenails, which could be a sign of a fungal infection, don't apply nail polish to cover up the problem. Nail polish locks out moisture and doesn't allow the nail bed to "breathe." Once you fix the underlying issue, then it is safe to paint nails. If the problem persists, please call the office for an appointment, 216-459-8616. We are here to help!

William E. Donahue, DPM, FACFAS

Jennifer Zienkowski-Zubel, DPM