"Fish Pedicure" Is It the New Fad?

 If you live in Florida, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, or New Hampshire, you won’t be able to find the latest trend in foot care on your local salon menu.  That’s because these states have outlawed the fish pedicure, a fad that is quickly gaining press coverage throughout the country.  The trend is popular in Asia, where customers can dip their feet into a large bowl of water, inhabited by dozens of tiny fish known as garra rufa, or doctor fish.  These tiny, toothless fish nibble away at dead and dried up skin, removing it in a similar fashion as a normal pedicure might.

State legislatures have been quick to ban the practice, citing several preexisting rules, including the prohibition of pets and animals in a salon, as well as sanitation standards set in place for pedicures.  But at a Virginia salon, customers are flocking to come get their feet nibbled on by the doctor fish.  At Yvonne Salon, with locations in Alexandria and Woodbridge, VA, the practice has been all the rage, being featured on the Tyra Banks’ Show and NPR, as well as the local news.

The tiny fish don’t have any teeth, so it is more of a sucking, or “kissing” feeling for the customers.  Garra rufa originate in the river basins of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, where the fish were first used as a treatment for psoriasis.  While the fish did not cure anyone’s psoriasis, they did help treat the symptoms, nibbling away at the dead and dried flesh of the spa-goers.  Since 2006, the fish have been used in commercial day-spas, starting in Japan and China, and finally finding their way to the United States. 

While the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has not officially made a statement regarding the use of fish in pedicures, there are clearly some sanitation issues that arise. The cleanliness of the fish and water that the fish live in is certainly an issue, as well as any skin conditions that the customer might have.  The effectiveness of fish pedicures has also been brought up, as it is difficult to compare this process to that of a traditional pedicure. 

For now, it remains a fad in foot care.  But if you want to try it for yourself, it may involve traveling to Virginia, or another state where fish pedicures have not yet been banned.  

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center
101 6th St. Nw 
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
www.FLFootandAnkle.com

Do You Have Intense Pain In Your Heels?

Has this ever happened to you?  You wake up, swing your feet out of bed, and the first few steps you take cause an intense pain in your heels?  If so, you may be one of the millions of people who suffer from plantar fasciitis every year.  It is one of the most common causes of heel pain, and it can be particularly debilitating for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. 

            Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot, known as the plantar fascia.  This band of tissue connects your heel bone to your toes, and helps provide the structure and support required of your feet for walking.  The inflammation is caused by a straining of the band of tissue, which can happen in a number of different ways.  One of the most common ways for the pain to occur is when a person who has been seated or lying down for an extended period of time first stands up, putting weight on their feet.  It is for this reason that plantar fasciitis often is first noticed in people getting out of bed in the morning.

            As the day goes on, the pain may temporarily goes away, only to come back later in the day or possibly the next day.  The pain is usually worsened by long periods of standing, or walking up stairs.  There are many methods of treating plantar fasciitis, including:

·         Icing the effected area

·         Stretching the plantar fascia tissue with a towel or other stretching device

·         Reducing the amount of time you stand on your feet, or cutting back on some of the activities that exacerbate the pain, such as running. 

·         Taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.

·         The use of orthotics in your shoes, and getting a new pair of shoes, with arch support and a cushioned heel.  The shoes should be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

 These methods work better for some than for others, and it is often a combination of several factors that will ultimately alleviate the pain.  Talk to your doctor about any heel pain you may be experiencing, as it may be a sign of a potentially more serious condition, especially if that pain occurs while lying down at night.  Together with your doctor, a plan can be put in place to get you back on your feet again, pain free!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.flfootandankle.com