Archive for March, 2016

SELF. COM- 6 Red Flags That You’re Nail Salon Isn’t Hygienic Enough-> Dr. Pruthi

by on Mar.28, 2016, under Uncategorized

http://www.self.com/wellness/2016/03/6-red-flags-that-youre-nail-salon-isnt-hygienic-enough/

 

2016
Mar 28
8:30 AM
WELLNESS
By Lisa Mulcahy
6 Red Flags That You’re Nail Salon Isn’t Hygienic Enough
A nasty infection could ruin your next mani-pedi. Here’s how to play it safe.

Getting your nails done is so relaxing, we bet you’ve never thought too much about the germ potential your favorite salon might pose—so here’s a reality check. Even the nicest salons can practice less-than-stellar cleanliness procedures. And if you have the misfortune of visiting a dirty salon, it can be way too easy to catch something nasty.

Love a good pedi? According to the Centers for Disease Control, a whopping 97 percent of nail salon footbaths tested in one study contained the bacteria M. fortuitum, an icky bug that can cause scarring boils on the skin. Fungal infections are another potential problem. “Fungal infections may infect the skin, like with athletes foot, or the nails, which can be extremely difficult to get rid of,” says Rebecca Pruthi, M.D., a board certified podiatric physician and surgeon practicing in New York City. “You can also contract viruses from nail salons—the result of which may be plantar warts, caused by HPV. Plantar warts are not only unsightly, but they can become very painful and can spread to other parts of the body.”

What’s more, recent media reports have uncovered serious salon infection issues. One customer in Galveston, Texas, got a pedicure-related toe infection so severe her nail needed to be surgically removed. A D.C. man suffered a life-threatening bacterial infection from a nail instrument puncture, and nearly lost a leg. Even scarier, the potential, while considered really rare, is there for blood-borne diseases to be spread. “Cutting into skin could cause secretions such as blood to get on nail instruments, and if another customer is exposed to that blood—if they get a cut in their skin, for example, and contaminated blood enters that cut—this is a potential route of transmission for diseases, theoretically including hepatitis or HIV,” Aaron E. Glatt, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, tells SELF.

Are you now so freaked out you’re swearing off salon visits forever? No need to neglect your nails—but you should be proactive about making sure you’re safe. Read on to learn smart steps you can easily take to make sure your next nail appointment will be hygienic and healthy.

1. First, do a visual cleanliness check.
Does the salon look spotless? It should. Clean surfaces are indicative of good hygiene practices overall. So no grime on countertops, no streaky mirrors, not even the tiniest stray nail clipping should be visible. Head into the ladies’ room and make sure it looks nice and sanitary. You should also check the dates on magazine stacks, to see how often customer reading material gets tossed. Old magazines are a mecca for germs if lots of fingers are flipping through their pages.

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2. Watch the technicians.
Are they wearing neat clothing? If your manicurist is wearing a stained uniform or apron, she’s sending a pretty clear message that professional cleanliness is not a priority for her, which should make you wonder how clean and safe her tools and equipment are. (While you’re peeping, check out her storage tray—the tools inside should look totally clean, too.) Are the technicians very focused on their work, or do they look lax when it comes to thoroughly cleaning or properly filing a customer’s nails? An alert technician is much less likely to do unhygienic work, or accidentally cut a customer mid-manicure.

3. Look out for safety signs.
Optimally, there should be posted safety rules regarding salon procedures that can be clearly seen by the salon staff.

4. Get the lowdown on those footbaths.
“Speak to the supervisor at the salon regarding what type of foot baths are used,” says Pruthi. “A lot of micro organisms are lingering within the jets of the whirlpool. Pipe-free whirlpools are better.” You can sometimes see the difference between pipe or pipe-free whirlpools yourself, too: A pipe-free system has what looks like a fan or propeller attached to it, while a whirlpool with pipes is surrounded by, well, pipes. Also, “find a facility that uses a liner in their foot bath and make sure that liner is changed in between each client,” urges Pruthi.

5. Make sure tools are disposable—and disposed of.
In addition to the bubbly kind, there are non-whirlpool plastic foot basins that can easily be tossed between customers. Some salons still reuse things like metal files, so you want to request single-use files and buffers. It’s totally OK to ask the technician to open a package in front of you to get your single-use tool out, too. Watch to make sure all disposable tools are thrown away immediately. (If they got tossed after they were used on you, chances are they got tossed after the person before you, as well.)

6. Ask about an autoclave.
When it comes to making sure non-disposable tools are safe, “disinfection and sterilization are not the same,” explains Pruthi. An autoclave sterilization device, which is now available in better nail salons, is guaranteed to kill any bug and is much more effective than disinfecting solution (like that blue stuff you might see at a hair salon or barber shop), which doesn’t kill all bacterial spores.

You don’t have to rely on your manicurist’s hygiene scruples to stay safe. Here are a few ways you can take your mani into your own hands:
Bring your own instruments.

This eliminates any danger of getting an infection from a prior customer. Another good practice: “Clean your own instruments at home beforehand, too. You can wipe down something like a pair of scissors with alcohol, or wash them with soap and water,” says Glatt. Even if you’re the only person using them, cleaning your instruments before using them takes away any risk from surface dirt they make have picked up in a drawer or on a table.

Don’t shave your legs for 24 hours before your treatment.

Even if you don’t think you nicked yourself, microscopic cuts can be easy entry points for infection.

Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.

If something doesn’t look or feel right, voice your opinion to the salon owner—not only will you be protecting yourself, but other customers as well. Then find another salon. There are many great facilities out there that put their customers’ health first.

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Avoid Infections With These Pedicure Tips!!

by on Mar.28, 2016, under Uncategorized

http://blog.doctoroz.com/oz-experts/avoid-infections-with-these-pedicure-tips

 

 

Avoid Infections With These Pedicure Tips

03/24/2016 at 11:40 AM

Pretty toes or medical woes? Who doesn’t love the way their feet look after a fresh pedicure? Although you may think you are practicing good hygiene by indulging in a foot spa treatment, you could be increasing your risk for infection.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, pedicure health risks include fungal infections and bacterial skin infections, including MRSA (Methicillin Staphylococcus Aureus), a potentially serious antibiotic-resistant staph infection.

Watch: Oz Investigates: Nail Salon Dangers

Additionally, viruses, such as those that cause plantar warts, can be found in spas and pedicure facilities. I often see many of these conditions in my office.

How can you minimize your risks during a pedicure? Here are some useful tips:

Check it out: A salon/spa may “look” clean, but keep in mind you can’t see a bacteria, virus, or fungal spore. The first thing I tell patients is to find out about the practices of the facility. Are they cleaning in between clients? How are they cleaning the instruments and footbaths? What measures do they use to minimize infections?
Avoid crowds: Stay away from overcrowded salons. Go in the morning, preferably on a weekday. According to American Podiatric Association, salon footbaths are usually cleaner earlier in the day before they’ve been heavily used.
Stop the bubbles/foot bath: Many of the microorganisms adhere to moist surfaces or the insides of the jets (even after the tub is cleaned!). This makes whirlpool baths a potential haven for germs, especially when the jets are turned on, encouraging the microorganisms to move from the nozzles to the tub, and infect your feet. Turn off the bubbles. Some of the newer facilities have protective liners for the footbaths, or foot baths without pipes and jets.
BYOI: Bring your own instruments: Medical sterilization techniques may not be implemented and nail polishes may also be contaminated (double-dipping is an understatement!). Bring your own surgical steel instruments and polish to decrease contamination. Disposable tools, such as buffers and files, should be discarded between clients.
Keep the stubble: Avoid shaving, waxing, and using depilatory creams on your legs and feet 24-hours beforehand. Small abrasions or cuts to skin can get infected. If you need to shave your legs, wait until after the pedicure.
Avoid cutting skin and cuticles: The cuticles are there for a reason; they serve as protective barrier. Avoid cutting them as it can predispose one to infection. Also, the pedicurist should use a pumice stone or foot file rather than a blade or razor to remove calluses or hard, dry skin. Improper use of razors can lead to infections. Diabetics, smokers, people who are immunocompromised, or anyone suffering from peripheral arterial diseases should take extra precaution since cuts on the feet can lead to serious wounds and infections.
Finally, remember afterwards to check your feet after getting a pedicure. If you notice any skin changes, irritations or wounds go see your podiatrist. Taking a few extra precautions is a sure way to keeping your feet beautiful and healthy.

 

 

Rebecca Pruthi, DPMBy Rebecca Pruthi, DPM
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery and Foot Health Expert

 

 

 

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CNTRAVELER.COM-Doctors Share What Really Happens When There’s an Emergency Mid-Flight

by on Mar.28, 2016, under Uncategorized

 

http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-03-23/doctors-share-what-really-happens-when-theres-an-emergency-mid-flight
TRAVEL INTELAIR TRAVEL
Doctors Share What Really Happens When There’s an Emergency Mid-Flight
Written by Rachel Rabkin Peachman March 23, 2016

Getty
About seven percent of in-flight medical emergencies result in a diversion, according to a 2013 study.

 

 

This is what goes on after a flight attendant asks, “Is there a doctor on board?”
When traveling at 30,000 feet, you probably don’t expect to have a sudden health scare. But mid-air medical emergencies happen more frequently than you might think. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t track medical events on planes, in a 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers estimated that there is an in-flight medical emergency in one out of 604 flights, or 16 medical emergencies per one million passengers. According to the researchers, the most common ailments that arise on planes include passing out (loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure), trouble breathing, vomiting, and cardiac symptoms.

So, what happens when there is a sick passenger on a plane? The FAA requires all U.S.-based commercial airlines to have automated external defibrillators and emergency medical kits that are stocked with basic resuscitation equipment and medications on flights, as well as CPR, first aid, and defibrillator training for all crew members. But of course, in a true medical emergency, having a doctor on your plane is a massive relief—and frequently, there is one. “The latest review found that 30 to 60 percent of flights have a medical professional on board,” says J.D. Polk, D.O., an osteopathic physician and senior medical officer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Still, doctors are, not surprisingly, limited to what they can do on a plane. William Brady, M.D., a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia Health System, has been called on for medical emergencies mid-flight several times. He stresses that it’s important to remember a commercial aircraft is not a flying medical unit, and it’s possible that “you may have a gifted physician[on board] who is an expert in treating a specific medical problem and has not treated the issue at hand for years.” But this hasn’t stopped physicians from stepping up when a flight attendant’s voice has announced over the loud speaker, “Is there a doctor on board?” Here’s what happened when these medical professionals answered the call:

MID-FLIGHT SCARE

“One of my more memorable calls to duty was on a flight from the U.S. to Australia. Midway across the Pacific Ocean, a young woman had chest pain, which is a daunting complaint if the patient were to require time-sensitive treatment thousands of miles from a hospital. I opened the supply box and I immediately felt naked, surrounded by non-medical personnel and a somewhat random collection of supplies…. I was armed with a Fisher Price-looking stethoscope in one hand and a bag of mini pretzels in the other trying to decide which would be more effective in treating this patient while passengers gawked at me like it was an accident on the side of a highway. Luckily for the patient, her chest pain was a combination of asthma and anxiety and was easily treated with an inhaler, cool compresses, body positioning, and emotional support. When I went back to my seat in coach, the flight attendant thanked me and put a fruit plate on my tray. She said, ‘Nice job. If you had placed an IV, we would’ve upgraded you to first class.’ Maybe next time.” —David J. Mathison, M.D., MBA, pediatric emergency physician and Mid-Atlantic regional medical director for PM Pediatrics, in Bethesda, Maryland

A CRUCIAL CALL

“I’m a podiatrist. When I was in my first year of residency, I was flying with my sister from Puerto Rico to Newark and there was an announcement asking for a doctor to please come to the front of the plane to help a sick passenger…. There I was coming back from vacation in ripped jean shorts, my hair braided with beads from the beach, dressed as a teen, being called as the ‘doctor on board.’ The passengers on the plane stared as I stood up and made my way to the front. The patient was a middle-aged man who had just had major surgery and had left the hospital, against medical advice, to get home for the winter holidays. He was sweating profusely, having difficulty breathing and chest pain, and he had a rapid pulse. I administered oxygen but he was worsening…. The first thing that came to my mind is that he was having a pulmonary embolus (a clot to the lung. The pilot asked me, ‘What do you want to do?’ Because I was so young, I was a little bit overwhelmed, but you don’t know what you’re capable of until you’re put into that situation. So, I explained that the situation was life threatening and we had to land. After I came out of the cockpit, he made the announcement that we would land in Bermuda. I’ll never forget when we landed, one passenger pointed at me and loudly announced, “That’s the girl who brought down the plane!” —Rebecca Pruthi, DPM, podiatric physician and surgeon, Foot Care of Manhattan

She said, ‘Nice job. If you had placed an IV, we would’ve upgraded you to first class.’
BABY ON BOARD

“In December of 2009, I was on a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City when they asked if there was a doctor on board because a woman was in labor. Now, it’s relatively common to have medical emergencies on board but a delivery on board is extremely rare. I felt a little panic because I’m an internist and I care for adults primarily…but I put my hand up to help. I went to the back of the plane to the flight attendants and the lady in labor on the floor, who turned out to be about four weeks from her due date, traveling to Salt Lake City for an adoption where the intended parents lived. A psychiatric nurse and pediatric nurse volunteered to help too. We were about an hour away from touch down in Salt Lake City and I saw that the baby’s head was crowning…. It was just a matter of 15 minutes, and a healthy baby boy was born. One of the nurses had a pair of makeup scissors with a rounded tip, so we used those to cut the umbilical cord and I used my shoelaces to tie [it]. Some passengers with children also gave us blankets. The pilot announced the birth and said jokingly, ‘We have a security breach—we’ve found an extra passenger on board with no ID and no luggage.” Everyone clapped and it felt really joyous. Because it was a private adoption, to this day I don’t know the lady’s name. But a year later, I got a letter in the mail with a picture of a one-year-old boy in an Air Force flight jacket. The mom and dad who had adopted the baby boy thanked me for delivering him and told me his nickname was ‘The Jet.’ I was so grateful for that bit of closure.” —John Saran, MDVIP physician affiliated with Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois

FEELING THE PRESSURE

“A young man had suddenly gone blind in one eye as we got to cruising altitude. When I got to his seat, I saw that he had a dilated pupil, and he told me he’d just had an ophthalmologic procedure done to repair a detached retina. I was aware that the procedure required an ophthalmologist to inject a gas bubble into the middle of the eyeball, which would lightly press against the detachment for a few weeks until a seal could form between the retina and the wall of the eye. Under normal circumstances, the eye absorbs the gas bubble over time. The problem here was that when the aircraft reached cruising altitude with a cabin pressure of 8,000 feet, it caused the bubble in his eye to expand and press against the artery at the back of his retina, which collapsed the artery and blinded him…. I asked the pilot if he could reset the cabin pressure from 8,000 feet to 2,000 feet. Because of my background in aerospace medicine, I realized that would increase the amount of air in the cabin, and the engine would need to work a little harder and burn more fuel, but it would help the patient. Fortunately, the pilot calculated that they had enough fuel to make that adjustment and he reduced the cabin pressure. It allowed the gas bubble in the passenger’s eye to shrink, and he immediately regained sight.” —J.D. Polk, D.O., an osteopathic physician, senior medical officer with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and previous assistant secretary for health affairs and chief medical officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

We were about an hour away from touch down in Salt Lake City and I saw that the baby’s head was crowning…
A BIG RELIEF

“Four years ago, when I was a surgical intern, I was on a flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles when I answered the overhead page for a doctor. The flight attendant led me to the back of the plane where there was a 65-year-old man who was unable to urinate. He looked extremely uncomfortable, and said he had a history of an enlarged prostate. He’d also taken a Benadryl to sleep, which I knew can cause a blockage in the neurotransmitters that help the prostate relax. Since the urethra passes right through the prostate, if the prostate doesn’t relax, you can’t urinate, which can result in severe pain and possibly bladder rupture. We were about four hours into the flight and it would be more than six hours until landing, so I got the medical kit and miraculously, it had a Foley catheter. As an intern, I was used to putting in a ton of Foley catheters before surgery. So we went upstairs to the first-class dining area where it was more private and I had him lie down. I sterilized the catheter as best I could, and used lidocaine from the kit to help numb the catheter when I inserted it. It immediately started draining urine, and I found a water bottle to put at the other end of the catheter to collect it. He immediately started feeling better. About an hour later while I was sleeping, the flight attendant brought over a handful of snacks and a champagne bottle from first class.” —Hyuma Leland, M.D., resident physician in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Southern California

TRAGEDY IN THE SKIES

“Around Christmas time 1997, I was on vacation with my wife and kids flying from New York to Miami when the flight attendant announced that they were looking for a doctor. I asked what I could do and the flight attendants brought me to a 25-year-old woman who had passed out in the aisle. She was traveling alone and was unresponsive when I got there. A newly trained paramedic also got up to help. We started administering CPR immediately on the floor of the aisle, but we had none of the equipment we needed to keep her alive. At the time, the in-flight medical kits had no oxygen, no breathing tube, and no device to pump oxygen into the lungs. And there was no defibrillator. The pilot asked if I’d like to make an emergency landing into Miami and I said yes. I continued doing CPR throughout the descent…to keep her heart pumping…but I didn’t think she was going to make it. As soon as we landed, the paramedics were there to take her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. I was so affected by this, and so disturbed that I didn’t have the tools that could have made the difference. She had no prior history of cardiac issues, and it turned out that she had suffered an arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), and she would have done very well with a defibrillator. Immediately after the incident, I lobbied Congress, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the FAA to ask that airlines expand their medical kits and change their protocol. In 1998, Congress passed the Aviation Medical Assistance Act, which requires that all airlines carry expanded medical kits and an automatic defibrillator. I am gratified every time I get a letter from someone thanking me and telling me that their life was saved because of the defibrillators and medical kits that are now on planes.” —John Knight, M.D., hand and wrist surgeon, and director of the Hand and Wrist Institute in Los Angeles

 

 

 

 

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COSMOENESPAGNOL.COM-How Prone are you to developing bunions-Dr. Pruthi- Spanish Cosmo

by on Mar.28, 2016, under Uncategorized

 

cosmopolitan

 

 

http://www.cosmoenespanol.com/salud-y-fitness/news/15/09/10/por-que-me-salen-juanetes.html

 

¿Qué tan propensa eres a desarrollar juanetes? Descubre si estás en riesgo de padecerlos Por: Redacción Cosmo @cosmopolitanmx Contrario a lo que muchos piensan, esas pequeñas y molestas protuberancias óseas que se forman en el dedo gordo del pie, conocidos como juanetes, no son sólo un problema para la abuela y sus zapatos ortopédicos. Casi un tercio de los adultos las tienen, y por desgracia, se puede desarrollar a cualquier edad. Esto es lo que necesitas saber acerca de ellos. Un juanete es en realidad una ligera ampliación de los dos primeros metatarsianos (huesos) de los pies, dice John Mancuso, Dr. especialista en medicina podológica de la ciudad de Nueva York. ¿Que tus tacones favoritos son los causantes?… ¡Falso! (Amantes de Louboutin, ¡Brinquen de alegría!) Son 100 por ciento hereditarios, gracias, mamá. En realidad, son bastante comunes, dice Rebecca Pruthi, Médico cirujano en podología de Nueva York. Y mientras son hereditarios, hay ciertos factores que elevan el riesgo de padecerlos. De acuerdo con la Asociación Americana de Medicina Podológica, los que tienen pies planos, arcos bajos, artritis o enfermedades inflamatorias de las articulaciones, son más propensas a desarrollarlas. Si tienes un trabajo que requiera estar de pie mucho tiempo, también eres más susceptibles a los juanetes, dice Pruthi. Mientras hombres como mujeres tienen una predisposición a desarrollar juanetes, según un estudio publicado en la revista Arthritis Care & Research encontró que los juanetes son más frecuentes en las mujeres. Mancuso dice que alrededor del 85 por ciento de sus pacientes son mujeres. Aquí es donde la elección de los zapatos se vuelve importante: Mientras que la herencia es la principal causa de los juanetes, los tacones muy altos los pueden desencadenar más fácilmente, ya que ponen mayor presión en la parte delantera del pie, donde se forman los juanetes, dice Pruthi. Mancuso dice que los ejercicios que fortalecen los arcos de los pies (como los levantamientos de pantorrilla) pueden retrasar la difusión de los huesos en el pie. Asegurarte de que llevas el calzado adecuado (amplios, anchos y con profundidad para el pie) también puede ayudar a minimizar las posibilidades de desarrollarlos. Pruthi sugiere buscar zapatos hechos de materiales naturales como el cuero que cede un poco para un ajuste más cómodo. Los juanetes también pueden llegar a ser especialmente molestos para los corredores, ya que tienden a causar una pronación grave (meter hacia adentro el pie al caminar o correr). La cirugía es la única verdadera solución. “La mayoría de la gente piensa que la cirugía de juanete consiste simplemente en tomar un martillo, un cincel y golpear la protuberancia”, dice Mancuso. “Eso es sólo una parte de ella.” El trabajo de un cirujano podólogo es cortar el hueso para poder realinear la articulación y volver a juntar los huesos. Así que ¿Cuándo es necesaria la cirugía? Todo depende de qué tan molesto sea el juanete. “Si llega a ser doloroso, se te dificulta caminar o incluso usar zapatos, son las tres razones que consideramos para la cirugía”, dice Pruthi. La gente está empezando a considerar la cirugía cada vez más jóvenes. Mancuso dice que la mayor parte de sus pacientes están entre sus treinta y tantos y principios de los cuarenta. “Cuanto más joven lo hagas, la cirugía es menos necesaria”, dice Mancuso, quien explica que el procedimiento es mucho más sencillo si se realiza antes de que el pie haya desarrollado una seria propagación. Debes tener en cuenta que es posible que el juanete vuelva a aparecer incluso después de la cirugía. “Dado que la gravedad varía con cada juanete, existen diferentes procedimientos quirúrgicos para corregirlo”, dice Pruthi. “Si se lleva a cabo el procedimiento adecuado, es poco probable que vuelva a aparecer. Si lo hace, toma años y por lo general es menos grave”. Comparte la nota       English Translated version:   How you are prone to developing bunion? Find out if you are at risk of suffering By: Writing Cosmo @cosmopolitanmx Contrary to what many think, those small, annoying bony protrusions that form in the big toe, known as bunions, are not just a problem for grandma and orthopedic shoes. Almost a third of adults have, and unfortunately, it can develop at any age. This is what you needknow about them. A bunion is actually a slight extension of the first two metatarsals (bones) of the feet, says John Mancuso, Dr. specialist in podiatric medicine at New York City. What your favorite heels are responsible? … False! (Louboutin lovers, Hopskip of joy!) Are 100 percent heritable, thanks, Mom. Actually, they are quite common, says Rebecca Pruthi, Medical podiatry surgeon in New York. And while they are hereditary, there are certain factors that increase the risk of suffering. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, those with flat feet, low arches, arthritis or inflammatory joint diseases, are more likely to develop. If you have a job that requires standing long time, you are also more susceptible to bunions, says Pruthi. While men and women have a predisposition to develop bunions, accordinga study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research found that bunions are more frequent in women. Mancuso said that about 85 percent of his patients are women important. This is where the choice of shoes becomes While heredity is the main cause of bunions, very high heels all can trigger more easily because put more pressure on the forefoot, where bunions are formed, said Pruthi. Mancuso says the exercises that strengthen the arches of the feet (such as calf raises) can slow the spread of the bones in the foot. Make sure you wear the right (broad, wide and deep to the foot) shoes can also help minimize the chances of developing. Pruthi suggests looking shoes made ​​of natural materials like leather that gives a bit for a more comfortable fit. Bunions can also become especially troublesome for runners, as they tend to cause severe pronation (inward put your foot when walking or running). Surgery is the only real solution. “Most people think that bunion surgery is simply to take a hammer, a chisel and hit the bump” says Mancuso. “That’s just a part of it.” The job of a podiatrist surgeon is cutting the bone to realign the joint and the bones back together. So When surgery is necessary?all depends on how annoying is the bunion. “If it becomes painful, you difficult walk or even wear shoes, are the three reasons we consider for surgery” says Pruthi. People are starting to consider surgery getting younger. Mancuso says that most of his patients are among their thirties and early forties. “The younger you do, surgery is less necessary” says Mancuso, who explains that the procedure is much easier if done before the foot has developed a serious spread. You must keep in mind that it is possible that the bunion reappears even after surgery. “Because gravity varies with each bunion, theredifferent surgical procedures to correct” says Pruthi. “If carried out the proper procedure, it is unlikely to appear again. If it does,takes years and usually is less severe.” Share the note

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FOXNEWS.COM-6 red flags that your nail salon isn’t hygienic enough-Dr. Pruthi

by on Mar.27, 2016, under Uncategorized

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/04/01/6-red-flags-that-your-nail-salon-isnt-hygienic-enough.html

 

Getting your nails done is so relaxing, we bet you’ve never thought too much about the germ potential your favorite salon might pose—so here’s a reality check. Even the nicest salons can practice less-than-stellar cleanliness procedures. And if you have the misfortune of visiting a dirty salon, it can be way too easy to catch something nasty.

Love a good pedi? According to the Centers for Disease Control, a whopping 97 percent of nail salon footbaths tested in one study contained the bacteria M. fortuitum, an icky bug that can cause scarring boils on the skin. Fungal infections are another potential problem.

“Fungal infections may infect the skin, like with athletes foot, or the nails, which can be extremely difficult to get rid of,” said Dr. Rebecca Pruthi, a board certified podiatric physician and surgeon practicing in New York City. “You can also contract viruses from nail salons—the result of which may be plantar warts, caused by HPV. Plantar warts are not only unsightly, but they can become very painful and can spread to other parts of the body.”

What’s more, recent media reports have uncovered serious salon infection issues. One customer in Galveston, Texas, got a pedicure-related toe infection so severe her nail needed to be surgically removed. A D.C. man suffered a life-threatening bacterial infection from a nail instrument puncture, and nearly lost a leg. Even scarier, the potential, while considered really rare, is there for blood-borne diseases to be spread.

“Cutting into skin could cause secretions such as blood to get on nail instruments, and if another customer is exposed to that blood—if they get a cut in their skin, for example, and contaminated blood enters that cut—this is a potential route of transmission for diseases, theoretically including hepatitis or HIV,” Dr. Aaron E. Glatt,an infectious disease specialist and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, told SELF.

Are you now so freaked out you’re swearing off salon visits forever? No need to neglect your nails—but you should be proactive about making sure you’re safe. Read on to learn smart steps you can easily take to make sure your next nail appointment will be hygienic and healthy.

1. First, do a visual cleanliness check.

Does the salon look spotless? It should. Clean surfaces are indicative of good hygiene practices overall. So no grime on countertops, no streaky mirrors, not even the tiniest stray nail clipping should be visible. Head into the ladies’ room and make sure it looks nice and sanitary. You should also check the dates on magazine stacks, to see how often customer reading material gets tossed. Old magazines are a mecca for germs if lots of fingers are flipping through their pages.

Related: People With This Personality Trait Are More Likely to Cheat

2. Watch the technicians.

Are they wearing neat clothing? If your manicurist is wearing a stained uniform or apron, she’s sending a pretty clear message that professional cleanliness is not a priority for her, which should make you wonder how clean and safe her tools and equipment are. (While you’re peeping, check out her storage tray—the tools inside should look totally clean, too.) Are the technicians very focused on their work, or do they look lax when it comes to thoroughly cleaning or properly filing a customer’s nails? An alert technician is much less likely to do unhygienic work, or accidentally cut a customer mid-manicure.

3. Look out for safety signs.

Optimally, there should be posted safety rules regarding salon procedures that can be clearly seen by the salon staff.

4. Get the lowdown on those footbaths.

“Speak to the supervisor at the salon regarding what type of foot baths are used,” Pruthi said. “A lot of micro organisms are lingering within the jets of the whirlpool. Pipe-free whirlpools are better.”

You can sometimes see the difference between pipe or pipe-free whirlpools yourself, too: A pipe-free system has what looks like a fan or propeller attached to it, while a whirlpool with pipes is surrounded by, well, pipes. Also, “find a facility that uses a liner in their foot bath and make sure that liner is changed in between each client,” Pruthi urged.

5. Make sure tools are disposable—and disposed of.

In addition to the bubbly kind, there are non-whirlpool plastic foot basins that can easily be tossed between customers. Some salons still reuse things like metal files, so you want to request single-use files and buffers. It’s totally OK to ask the technician to open a package in front of you to get your single-use tool out, too. Watch to make sure all disposable tools are thrown away immediately. (If they got tossed after they were used on you, chances are they got tossed after the person before you, as well.)

Related: The Easiest Way (Ever!) To Find Out If You’d Look Good With Short Hair

6. Ask about an autoclave.

When it comes to making sure non-disposable tools are safe, “disinfection and sterilization are not the same,” explained Pruthi. An autoclave sterilization device, which is now available in better nail salons, is guaranteed to kill any bug and is much more effective than disinfecting solution (like that blue stuff you might see at a hair salon or barber shop), which doesn’t kill all bacterial spores.

You don’t have to rely on your manicurist’s hygiene scruples to stay safe. Here are a few ways you can take your mani into your own hands:

Bring your own instruments.

This eliminates any danger of getting an infection from a prior customer. Another good practice: “Clean your own instruments at home beforehand, too. You can wipe down something like a pair of scissors with alcohol, or wash them with soap and water,” says Glatt. Even if you’re the only person using them, cleaning your instruments before using them takes away any risk from surface dirt they make have picked up in a drawer or on a table.

Don’t shave your legs for 24 hours before your treatment.

Even if you don’t think you nicked yourself, microscopic cuts can be easy entry points for infection.

Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns.

If something doesn’t look or feel right, voice your opinion to the salon owner—not only will you be protecting yourself, but other customers as well. Then find another salon. There are many great facilities out there that put their customers’ health first.

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