Sunday, March 29, 2009

Killer Nail Polish?

We are always warning the public about safe pedicure practices, but have you thought about what's in your nail polish?

Reading labels is not just for the grocery store! Did you know that the chemicals in nail polish are potentially hazardous for your health? The immense variety of nail lacquers and polishes make it hard to choose the perfect product! Whether you want to strengthen brittle nails, lengthen short nails, or just add a little color to your fingers and toes – there is a vast arsenal of products in an infinite palate of hues to satisfy every fancy. However, do not be fooled by the seemingly innocent contents of that small, brightly colored bottle. Read the labels!

The dangers of nail polish are directly correlated with the chemicals used in their manufacture. Most nail polishes are chock full of a variety of harmful substances. The major toxic compounds that you need to watch out for are toluene and dibutyl phthalate.

Toluene is a clear fluid that is a component of many products: gasoline, paints, shoe polish, and even explosives! This compound allows t the nail polish to stay in its liquid form in the bottle and is responsible for the rapid drying of the nail polish when on your nails. Toluene is bad for your health because it affects your nervous system causing nausea, headaches, and depression. In addition, toluene induces kidney and liver damage as well as eye, nose and throat irritation. It has even been implicated in the development of cancer!

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a chemical that is used as a binder to improve the endurance of nail polish when applied to your nails. This is the substance that allows plastic ware its flexible properties. Women of child-bearing age are being asked to avoid DBP because it has been linked to cancer in laboratory rats and the disruption of hormone levels in humans. In addition, this compound may play a role in childhood asthma, lasting fertility problems in newborn boys, and liver toxicity.

Besides toluene and DBP, compounds such as ethyl alcohol, formaldehyde, and glycol ethers are potential toxins found in nail polish as well! Why are these chemicals so bad?

Ethyl alcohol – irritant of mucous membranes and suppresses the activity of the central nervous system

Formaldehyde – neurotoxin that has produced cancer in certain laboratory rats

Glycol ethers – substance that has been associated with birth defects in animals, lower sperm counts in human males whose mothers were exposed to low levels, and higher than normal rates of miscarriage with increased exposure

Take the time to find a product that is DBP and toluene-free! There’s no point in taking an unnecessary risk just to keep those toes colorful!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

TOENAIL FUNGUS LASER TREATMENT

TREAT YOUR TOENAIL FUNGUS SAFELY AND PAINLESSLY
with the new PinPointe FootLaser

Coming in May to
Foot & Ankle Associates of North Texas LLP in Grapevine!

This new patented laser technology kills the pathogens that cause toenail fungus (Onychomycosis)

The gentle laser light works through the nail

No side effects

Does not harm the nail or skin

Painless-no anesthesia needed

Usually only one treatment required

Shoes and nail polish can be worn immediately after treatment

How does the laser work?

This patented laser is specially designed to shine through your toenail and destroy the specific pathogens embedded in and under your nail causing the infection. The FootLaser operates in the very tight spectrum of near infa red light. Unlike CO2 lasers of the past, this laser safely destroys the fungi, molds and bacteria that often cause onychomycosis.

Is this laser painful?

The gentle laser light beam has no effect on healthy tissue. There is no discomfort associated with the treatment during or after. This treatment does not harm or affect your activity in any way.

Does it really work?

In the first clinical study, earlier this year, 88% of the treated patients grew out a normal looking nail after one treatment. After the one treatment, the nail plate should grow out normally in 6-12 months if there is a healthy nail bed. This result is comparable to the success rate for the oral pill, Lamisil, which you take for three or four months with some risk of side effects. Additional information can be found at www.pinpointefootlaser.com

Is this treatment safe?

There are no age or health restrictions or limitations. In clinical studies there have been no adverse reactions, injuries, disabilities or known side effects. As you may know, the use of the medication available today for treatment of fungus toenails, carries with it possible systemic involvement (commonly the liver and kidney). This laser does not!

Does my insurance pay for this?

Because this treatment is considered aesthetic (cosmetic), health insurance plans do not cover this treatment. We accept major credit cards and personal checks or you may use your Flexible Spending Account from work. We also offer an interest free payment plan through Care Credit.

How Much Does It Cost?

The laser treatment is applied to all of the toenails on both feet, even the ones that appear uninfected. This reduces the chance of re-infection and takes about 30 minutes. There is an initial consultation with the doctor, which costs $50, to see if you are a candidate for the treatment. This is credited towards your procedure fee if you proceed with treatment. The treatment fee is $850. If the infection is resistant or has not responded with normal nail growth, the nails may need another laser treatment. This often occurs when all ten nails are severely infected. An additional treatment within the first six months is discounted to $450.

To make an appointment for your initial consultation, call (817)416-6155 or contactus@faant.com

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Safe Pedicure

You have been in your heels all day and you begin to daydream about you pedicurist. How great it would be to escape the kids, the hustle and bustle, and get your feet pampered. But it may cost you. Did you know that you may be on pedicure away from a nasty infection or even death! No, I am not exaggerating. In Texas, a young woman was cut by a pumice stone. The open wound got infected by bacteria lurking in the whirlpool. After 6 months of fighting off the chronic wound, the women contracted mrsa and this nasty infection caused her death. This could never happen at your salon right? Think again. You are at risk of getting a nasty infection at almost any salon. Here are some helpful hints to keep your feet safe but still pretty.

1) Ask Critical Questions!
Have you ever asked your pedicurist how they clean their tools or the foot spa. Take a look at the spa chair. Is it stainless steel? Are they cleaning the chairs in between customers? Does the spa treat customers with foot infections, nail fungus, or athlete’s foot? I am guessing you never thought to ask any of these questions. I am sorry to inform you that you will not like the answers.

2) Cleaned tools are disinfected tools
Most states only regulate tools to be sanitized. Though this has antibacterial properties, the only way to be sure that there are no bacteria or fungus is to disinfect the tools by an autoclave. Why you ask? When sanitizing, you are simply placing the tools into a solution. How do you know they were put into the solution for a long enough time? You don’t. You have to trust that they were properly sanitized. Yes just trust there is nothing nasty growing on that nail clipper. With an autoclave, markers are used that change color when the tool was properly disinfected at a high enough temperature for an appropriate amount of time. An easy way to avoid this controversy is to invest in your own set of tools to bring with you to the pedicurist. This will ensure that your nail clipper doesn’t have your neighbor’s nail fungus tucked into the hinge.

3) Find a spa that uses stainless steel spa chairs.
There have been several bacterial outbreaks that have been traced back to a spa. The cause is a mycobacterium that thrives in the plastic piping and filter of a pedicure chair. Fungus in the pipes! Gross! Many chair spas are made out of fiberglass which is very difficult to properly clean without damaging. The plastic piping is a haven due to its inability to never completely drain. This leads to cross contamination. You are basically putting your feet in water used by the customer before you, before them, before the one before and so on. The ideal pedicure chair should be stainless steel which is much easier to clean. It is also important for the chair to be pipeless to ensure you are not sharing the same water with every foot that has ever stepped in for a soaking.

4) Does your spa treat customers with foot infections, nail fungus, foot fungus?
Nasty stinky, fungus growing demands! When I say nail fungus, many of us think of an old man with thick nasty looking nails. You may be unaware that nail fungus infects woman of all ages just as prominently as men. Are they at your spa? A pedicurist should not be treating infected feet due to the high risk of cross contamination. They are strongly advised to refer the customer to a podiatric physician before working on their feet. None of this is regulated so your spa may be pumicing bacteria and fungus and putting you at high risk!

5) Avoid fake nails and nail polish

Fake nails are a haven for bacteria and fungus. What nail technicians refer to as fake nail greening is actually a pseudomonas bacteria infection. Your cuticle is your body’s natural defense system against infection. During a nail “workup” they push, damage, and remove your cuticle giving bacteria an open door to your into your body! Nail polish can also trap bacteria, but more importantly, you are unable to notice changes in your nail or under your nail due to the polish over coating. Changes in your nail or nail bed are signs of infections and should be attended to immediately. If you can’t resist the Hot Pink nails, try an antibacterial nail polish. Many podiatric physicians provide this in their office or on their websites.

6) Find a Podiatry Approved Nail Spa
Podiatric Physicians are more than just surgeon of the foot and ankle. They are foot specialist. They can advise you with all o f your foot and ankle issues. They can even advise you on proper pedicures. Some podiatrists provide pedicures in their office! They are very well aware of the risks involved in pedicures and can recommend a spa and techniques that will assure your safety.