The contents of Zamberg.com education section provides only general concepts of hygiene and product usage and should not in any event be considered as specific medical recommendation for self-treatment. The information is being provided only as reference and in no way should be taken as instructions for self-diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for a licensed physician's proper medical advice, diagnosis and/or treatment. Customers should always consult a physician or another licensed medical practitioner for specific treatment instructions and before beginning using any treatment or hygiene regimen. If at any time customers have any treatment questions or experience any discomfort or pain with their personal hygiene practices we recommend that they consult a physician for assessment and treatment.

Thousands of people find out from their own experience how bad and uncomfortable the issues of nail fungus and other nail diseases are, and how hard and costly it is to cure them. One of the major reasons is the insufficient sanitation of the instruments in various salons and spas. The best way to avoid such infections is to do your own manicure and pedicure, but many working individuals do not have the time, energy or the skills to give themselves that perfect pedicure. Of course not all salons are in such a bad state and we are not advocating completely abandoning their convenience and comfort altogether, but if you consider such serious consequences of unsanitary salon practices as described by reports and stories like "Death by Pedicure", it should give anyone pause for serious consideration. Even if you don't think that such extremes are not going to affect you, just as with every other thing you do for your personal well being you should do research and take some precautions.

The main culprit is the dirty, unhygienic instrument used and there are a few things you can do to make your next visit to the salon much safer. To begin, you can research the different salons in your neighborhood to find one that is clean and sanitary.

A lot of people fall into the trap of going to so many Chinese salons, first off, they are so much cheaper, in addition they are everywhere and are relatively quick in everything they do. These salons may save you some money and a few minutes right away, but you may have to pay so much more in treatments from nail fungus, infections and other serious nail and skin issues.

To judge whether the salon you picked is good (and sterile) watch how the instruments are sterilized and what instruments are being used. Most low-priced places use Pakistan made tools that are made of poorly made steel, which does not lend itself to sterilization. Some better places use machines that look like microwaves, which do a passable job disinfecting, if the instruments used are of good quality, but if dipping the instruments in some (usually blue) liquid is all that is done it is NOT enough!

The tiny organisms that invade and eat at the nail in a fungus infection are very hard to get rid of, both under the nail and from the instruments. If the instruments used are made of soft, porous steel they will remain on the instruments and will be spread to others who share the instruments.

When considering the instruments used in most salons you may also notice that even those that use more expensive instruments almost none of them use something as basic as cuticle scissors and cutters. This is because these are rather expensive instruments and most salons use cuticle nippers instead. The problem in using nippers is that they rip the skin around the nails, which leads to hangnails and damages the nail bed. Though everyone understands that prices are very important, but when you're talking about your own personal well being why would you accept inferior instruments and treatments?

Even when doing research, there are still no guarantees because the instruments are being shared with all other clients a salon may have. Even if salon is clean and sanitary there is no assurance that they use high quality instruments that will actually get disinfected or that the sanitizing process is sufficient or that someone won't make mistakes and may not do as good a job as they should on disinfecting. To minimize any exposure to any possible infections consider "eliminating" the problem altogether. You can make your next pedicure and manicure in a salon safer but simply brining your own instruments. That way you're definitely not sharing these tools with hundreds and thousands of others who visit the spa, and you know that your tools will be high quality and how clean they are. Most salons allow this practice, it may even save them on "equipment" costs, and many even welcome it.

This practice is becoming more and more acceptable and popular, that many salons started to build small lockers especially to allow customers to leave their tools at the location and avoid the hassle of carrying the instrument every time they go to the salon. However, if you do that, don't forget that your tools still need to be cleaned and disinfected.

Personal pedicure and manicure instruments should also be considered in a home with family. All of us have our own toothbrushes, and the hygiene instruments are just as important. Just think, that if by some chance you do get nail fungus or some other infection, you do not want to spread that to your loved ones.

Yes, grooming instruments cost a bit more than toothbrushes, especially those that are of good quality, but you must remember that you spend money on good quality instruments just once and they will last you a lifetime and that is a lot of time and many toothbrushes. Let us close by repeating one very important thought - these tools are being used on your skin and nails for your own health and safety, so why would you accept anything other than the best.