Fish spas

[Boeing_747]

Good or bad for people with diabetes?
I've always wanted to go and wondered what peoples views on them are.

 

[Patch]

Just spotted one of these in my local mall last night. Can't see any problem for diabetics - don't the little fish just nibble at the dead skin on your feet?

Surely can't do any harm? (You could always kick 'em if they nibble too hard... :lol: )

 

[carty]

I was offered a flyer on this at the week end I think the tickleing
would be too much
CAROL

 

[cugila]

Oh I don't know Carol.........you never know...... :wink:

 

[candyfloss]

I went to one once in the far east. It was just for fun and thats all you do get out of it. However I read somewhere on the internet not that long ago that this is not necessarily the most hygenic thing to do, for anybody. Some places were not kept scrupulously clean. I wonder therefore, whether we i.e. diabetics, should be extra careful in that respect considering the potential for problems with our feet. The last thing you want to do is let in bacteria or a virus to an open sore.

 

[jaykay]

Most therapists I have spoken to have agreed that diabetes itself is not a contra-indication. HOWEVER, please be aware of a few things before you take the plunge. If you have any open sores or cuts/wounds you should not have the treatment. I would guess that most of these establishments do not have any trained fish experts in the joint, so you should be aware that there are different varieties of these fish-the wrong ones can bite! Also there is an issue with hygiene of the water and the fish. I love the idea of it but I think I would be very careful of whom I trusted to administer the treatment.

 

[noblehead]

Good or bad for people with diabetes?
I've always wanted to go and wondered what peoples views on them are.

Absolutely no way I would chance it with having diabetes, as others have said we have to be extra careful with our feet. I would imagine the spa will be full of bacteria and any cuts or grazes will be open to infection, far better to see a podiatrist!

Nigel

 

[GlucoseKnight]

Diabetes and Fish Pedicures

Hi All

There is a new fascination that has come into my local town which is Fish Therapy, the Doctor Fish as it is called is placed in the warm foot bath and the small fish nibble the dried skin off your feet. I have been told that it is safe for diabetics providing that they have no sores on their feet but can anyone confirm this?
I am usually so ticklish on my feet and do not see a chiropodist regularly although my feet are checked once a year by my specialist.
I wanted to know your thoughts on this, is it safe and has anyone had this done?

Thank you

 

[noblehead]

Re: Diabetes and Fish Pedicures

Hi All

There is a new fascination that has come into my local town which is Fish Therapy, the Doctor Fish as it is called is placed in the warm foot bath and the small fish nibble the dried skin off your feet. I have been told that it is safe for diabetics providing that they have no sores on their feet but can anyone confirm this?
I am usually so ticklish on my feet and do not see a chiropodist regularly although my feet are checked once a year by my specialist.
I wanted to know your thoughts on this, is it safe and has anyone had this done?

Thank you

Who exactly told you it was safe? Personally I wouldn't chance it and before you do I would speak with your diabetes consultant or podiatrist for their view on this procedure.

Nigel

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

No-one should have it done with any open wounds.... being diabetic doesn't change that at all.
As long as you don't have open wounds, it's safe, provided it's being done safely.

 

[rosgrech]

How can anyone call it a "treatment" - it's just another fad surely? Someone getting on the band wagon to extract money from the public for something which we could for ourselves at home (without fish!) and then there would be no issue with infections.

 

[daisy1]

I would certainly rather look after my feet myself - I have heard only bad things about this fish treatment especially bearing in mind that everyone puts their feet in the same water :evil:

 

[daisy1]

This is what it might be like:

 

[anniep]

I came across this the other week, and I'll be honest the thought just gave me the creeps............

 

[Celtic.Piskie]

The fish very gently nibble off the dead skin only.... It's been used for centuries. In the wild the fish do this for larger animals.
Feels a bit tickly, but does wonders. My feet always feel gorgeously soft afterwards.
They don't have teeth, so they can't bite.

Where i go to at least, the water in each tank is purified and sterilised at least 5 times an hour and goes through at least two cycles between clients, so there's very little chance of infection.

Personally, i absolutely love them.

 

[cugila]

However, the treatment has caused controversy in America with opponents insisting the practice is unhygienic.
Fish therapy has been banned in 14 states and New York senator Jeffrey Klein is campaigning to outlaw it in the city as well.
'Fish pedicures are dirty and dangerous', he said.
Many officials argue that the doctor fish breach U.S health regulations which state that beauty equipment should be thrown away or sanitised after each use.

They fear that infections could be spread between customers through small nicks in the skin.
But supporters say spas have addressed any hygiene concerns.

At Aqua Sheko they have round-the-clok sterilising system that changes and purifies the water in the eight glass fish tanks five times an hour.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... l-spa.html

Personally I like my fish battered and with salt & vinegar not nibbling my skin........

This is from one of the manufacturers and suppliers in the UK.

Featuring innovative filtration unit complete with powerful UV steriliser to reduce bacteria and pathogens.

I may be wrong but I read that as they know that it has bacteria and pathogens in the water......however the UV filter and UV steriliser can only 'REDUCE' them. It doesn't say they can eliminate them..........

Just another 'fad' as even the manufacturers admit, however they are laughing all the way to the bank. You should check out the cost of some of this kit.

I started to look into this as it doesn't seem to be regulated much. It turns out the HSE guidance and legislation doesn't cover these thing....yet !

Basically a variety of infectious agents are associated with the recreational use of water and these can affect the skin, ears, eyes, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. However, this is a foot spa so you aren't likely to immerse your head in the water ! I hope...... :wink:

Foot Spa's are much smaller than swimming pools and have a much higher ratio of users to water volume, so the amount of possible organic material in Foot Spa's is far higher than in swimming pool water. Under those conditions then pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and others can readily grow in the water. The disinfection of the water is therefore something that needs to be controlled carefully.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Folliculitis)
The folliculitis presents as a red rash and involves infection of the hair follicles. The disease is related to the duration of spa pool immersion as well as the degree of contamination of the water, and children and young adults are most susceptible

However the raised temperature and high organic content of the Foot Spa can make it very difficult to maintain effective disinfection. Despite all the fine words bandied around about how clean, invigorating and how lovely it all is. Some other things you should know as well....... :|

 

[cugila]

Just had a thought.......I have a Scholl Foot Spa and several Piranhas who are always hungry... :wink:

£5 a time to anybody brave enough. Clean water every time disinfected with TCP after every use.
The Hospital isn't too far away.....just in case.

Any takers pm me for details........

 

[Synonym]

Ha! Ha! :lol: But why a PM when we all want to see?! :roll:

Video footage ( :wink: ) would be excellent too!

 

[cugila]

Photo.......here's one of my little pals. Eddie with Graham lurking in the background.

They are really very lovable, slightly overweight and a trifle mad at times. :wink:



I really must stop feeding them too much. My Son and daughter named them after a couple of my good friends, 2 rather large ex-Cop's who often laugh over a Guinness or two with me on a Friday lunchtime.

 

[daisy1]

I've got an aquarium. Think I'll stick my feet in and see what happens :lol: Thankfully they're not piranhas though...