“It got to the point where it was painful to walk,” Miller said of her experience. “I had no idea what was going on, and eventually some of my toenails got so infected they fell off completely.”

To prevent complications or discomfort, nail salons around the United States are required by law to follow specific guidelines in order to ensure the health and safety of their patrons, said Dennis Arnold, director of the International Pedicure Association.

While the laws vary from state to state, Arnold said tools such as razors and credo blades are banned in most states, including Michigan, in order to help stop the spread of bacteria from person to person.

Fungi, bacterial infections, staph infections and wart viruses can all be contracted through unsterilized pedicure environments and can lead to serious health problems, Arnold said.

Arnold said experiences like Millers can be a common occurrence if nail salons do not follow proper sanitation and disinfectant procedures.

“It’s very important that all the tools used during a pedicure are being properly sterilized so bacteria cannot be spread from one patron to the next,” Arnold said.

“The salon should follow the guidelines from the manufacturer on the different disinfectant liquids they use to also ensure everyone’s safety,” he added.

While pedicure tools such as files and nail clippers can spread bacteria, the use of unsanitary foot baths could be one of the most dangerous aspects of getting a pedicure, Arnold said.

“The baths need to be properly cleaned and maintained because of the risk of growing bacteria,” he said. “Whirlpool baths or those attached to pipes can be especially dangerous because the pipes or smaller openings are harder to clean.”

Amanda Lyones, an instructor at Douglas J Aveda Institute, 331 E. Grand River Ave., said they use a basin instead of a whirlpool to lessen the risk of spreading harmful bacteria.

“We wash all our foot baths and tools with industrial cleaning products and also use a UV light machine on our tools to sterilize them fully,” Lyones said.

“We want all our guests to feel comfortable and we are concerned with their safety, so everything is kept as clean as possible.”

The institute also requires patrons to fill out a medical form to make sure they do not have any infectious conditions that could compromise the health of others.

Getting a pedicure can be safe at all salons as long as proper cleaning precautions are followed, and patrons are observant of the cleanliness of the salon’s environment, Arnold said.

“I never really paid attention to see if they were using clean tools when I was getting my pedicures,” Miller said.

“Now I know I have to be more careful when it comes to my feet.”