I remember when fish pedicure was a novelty ages ago, many hair and beauty salons and even spas included this massage in their wide ranging service menu. There were even speciality salons providing solely fish pedicure.
Small fish(a type of toothless carp) kept in a large container of water would nibble at your feet to remove dead skin and smoothen the skin.
However, the highly unpleasant news is that the fish are typically used on more than one person and serious infections can be transmitted between customers. Also, disease-causing bacteria and parasites would still thrive in the containers or spa tanks even if regularly disinfected.
Dermatology experts do not recommend fish pedicures be it for medical or aesthetic purposes. Nibbling by the fish could injure tissues under the nails causing the toenails to fall off. I think other serious infections like athlete's foot and psoriasis can be contracted through fish pedicures.
I tried this fish pedicure once at the persuasion of the owner of a hair salon of which I was a regular customer. I can vividly remember how uncomfortable and squeamish I felt when my feet were nibbled at by those little fish. Back home, I had to scrub and disinfect with hydrogen peroxide to get rid of the sticky slimy feeling on my feet.
During a recent trip to Krabi, Thailand I saw members of a family trying out this unusual experience. The ladies were giggling while the dad looked uncertain that this was something good. Anyway, as they say, a family that pedicures together, stays together.
