Lately, with all of my work at MRSA Resources I have heard several people talking about infections they have received from salons. The MRSA victims I have spoken with have almost exclusively contracted their infections from razors used to shave the back of their necks after haircuts. Nail salons are very capable of transmitting all sorts of bacterial infections, as well as Hepatitis.

This article from Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA talks about salon infections. An excerpt:

Texas dermatologist Shelly A. Sekula, M.D., has looked closely at the sanitary practices of the cosmetology and barber industry and found conditions sadly lacking.

“Nail and hair salons may be a source of blood-borne as well as other infectious diseases,” says Dr. Sekula who practices in Houston, Texas, and chairs the Legislation Committee for the Texas Dermatological Society. “There is good evidence that razors, nail files, barber’s scissors, tattoo needles, and body piercing instruments are risk factors for transmitting hepatitis B and C.”

Dr. Sekula’s interest in this area began when she saw one patient with a contagious fungal infection on her toes and feet. When questioned, the patient remarked that she had noticed just “one little cut” after the pedicure. “And the red warning flags went up,” Dr. Sekula says.

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