Press Room
"Raising the Bar" on Hygiene and Sanitation at Dashing Diva
15 Dec 2006Proper hygiene and sanitation have long been issues in nail salons in the United States. In response to the many "horror stories" that have appeared in the news media over the past few years, the issue is now high on the customer's radar screen. For example, celebrity advocate Paula Abdul, after suffering a serious nail infection that required hospitalization, testified before the California state legislature in 2005 to encourage the imposition of consumer safety standards in nail salons. Given the increased scrutiny, many nail salons have begun to implement at least some sanitation procedures, though consumers should still be vigilant.
At Dashing Diva we leave nothing to chance when it comes to the safety, comfort and peace-of-mind of our customers. Along with a dual-hand-sanitizing protocol (both nail techs and customers) at the start of each service, individual manicure "kits," and the ongoing disinfecting of tabletops and other surfaces at point-of-service, the two key components of our hygiene and sanitation philosophy are: 1) the absence of whirlpool foot baths, and 2) autoclaving of all metal implements, just like you see at dental offices and medical facilities.
No Whirlpool Footbaths
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta issued guidelines against whirlpool footbaths in 2001, identifying them as a potential breeding ground for fortuitum, a microbacterium that causes boils on the legs. If the filters in the footbath are not cleaned after each service, serious skin infections can develop. Why take the risk? In Dashing Diva's famed Pink Pedicure Lounge™, we soak your tootsies in a modern ceramic sink that's quick and easy to disinfect between customers . . . so you can relax and not worry about physical safety hazards. We also do not use foot razors (illegal in many states), opting instead for a callus-reducing sanding tool that features a new, disposable pad for each customer.
Autoclaving of All Metal Tools
Autoclaving is a special heat-sterilization method used at Dashing Diva, in addition to the New-York-Statemandated chemical disinfecting fluid. Autoclaving represents the highest level of sterilization and is standard procedure at medical facilities in the U.S. (in accordance with AMA, FDA and EPA guidelines), although it is still relatively rare in the nail salon world. After the chemical disinfecting and autoclaving process, the metal tools (which have been placed in sealed, disposable sanitation pouches) are opened by the nail technician at the start of each manicure or pedicure service.
How Autoclaving Works
When done correctly, autoclaving is the best and most dependable method of sterilization. The heat damages all cellular macromolecular structures, including nucleic acids and the cytoplasmic membrane. Steam sterilization employs steam under (1 5 psi) pressure to attain a temperature of 121 C, which is necessary to kill endospores. Moist heat is more effective and rapid than dry heat, in part due to the better heat transfer and penetration to all areas of the load during sterilization time.
Studies have shown that the processing time necessary to achieve decontamination of biological material depends on several loading factors. Load size, type of container, moisture content all impact decontamination time. A 30-60 minute autoclave is recommended to allow enough time for the center of the load to come up to temperature and have sufficient steam penetration. This will insure that the temperature in all parts of the load has reached 121 C for at least 15 minutes.
What the Experts Say about Autoclaving
"It is best to sterilize the instruments in an autoclave ... because most chemicals stored in nail salons are
flammable"
Source: EPA Guideline Pollution Prevention Practices for Nail Salons: A Guide to Protect the Health of Nail Salon Workers and their
Working Environment
"Autoclaving (heat sterilization) is best"
Source: Ralph Daniel, M.D., dermatologist in Jackson, Mississippi mentioned on the FDA web site
"Many HIV or hepatitis clients who scratch their lesions contaminate the distal nail plate with infectious debris
that can cross-contaminate nail tech instrumentation. Use of improperly cleaned nail nippers can transfer fungal
and bacterial spore debris. State boards consider alcohol soaks adequate, but many health professionals and
nail technicians agree that current methods of sanitation using alcohol need to be replaced by sterilization
protocols that include autoclaving. Clients deserve peace of mind when they come into any salon that the
instrumentation is sterilized. Autoclaves should be an integral part of all salons to give the patrons complete
assurance that they are receiving the best infection control. This sterilization move in the industry is being
resisted at many levels. Some upscale salons across the country are already autoclaving, but this represents a
very small percentage of salons."
Source: www.podiatryonline.com
"Heat sterilization [of nail implements] is best"
Source: ww.mayoclinic.com
"The facts about hair and nail salons' precautions against transmitting viral infections including hepatitis
B and C are not pretty. There's still a long way to go in the nail salon world. It's a big country, and every state
sets its own regulations. There's an enormous variation in the way each state interprets sanitation, disinfection,
and what is required in terms of cleaning instruments and pedicure tubs between clients,"
says Shelley A.
Sekula-Gibbs, M.D., clinical assistant professor, Baylor College of Medicine.
"Most state cosmetology boards only require nail salon instruments and whirlpool pedicure footbath tubs
to be disinfected with hospital-grade, low-level disinfectants such as quaternary ammonium compounds. These
disinfectants do not kill tuberculosis, Candida (yeast), hepatitis C, and other spore-forming
bacteria," Dr. Sekula-Gibbs says. Nail technicians, she adds, should be required to sterilize their
instruments in an autoclave."
Source: Dermatology Times, December 2004
For more information on Dashing Diva's hygiene and sanitation protocols, please call Robert Cleary, Director of Product Development & Operations at Dashing Diva's corporate headquarters in Port Washington, NY (51 6-621-6565, x307) or email: robert@dashingdiva.com
