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Fla. Bans Fish Pedicures

Cosmetology board cites rules on animals in salons, sanitation concerns

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2009 3:50 PM CST
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(Newser) – Fish pedicures—in which small carp eat dead skin from clients’ feet—have been banned in Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The state’s Board of Cosmetology determined that the practice, introduced last year, violated a ban on animals in salons, as well as sanitation requirements that mandate disinfecting of pedicure materials between clients. There is no way, the board noted, to disinfect a pool of fish.

Florida joins Texas, Washington, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in banning the procedure. Salons found performing the pedicure will face fines, a board representative said.

Women indulge in a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va., July 17, 2008.
Women indulge in a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va., July 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., is pictured during a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va., July 17, 2008.
Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., is pictured during a fish pedicure treatment at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon in Alexandria, Va., July 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this 2008 file photo, Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., has her toes nibbled on by a type of carp called garra rufa, or doctor fish, during a fish-pedicure treatment in Alexandria, Va.
In this 2008 file photo, Tracy Roberts, 33, of Rockville, Md., has her toes nibbled on by a type of carp called garra rufa, or doctor fish, during a fish-pedicure treatment in Alexandria, Va.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Guest
Feb 26, 2009 5:58 AM CST
This is such a common practice in various parts of Asia and has been for ages. The only difference being the fish aren't kept in a tiny tank but swim around in a pond. I've had this 'treatment' so often growing up. Bruise your feet playing soccer, dip in the pond, subject your feet to 5 minutes of aquatic ticklers and voila, your wound is clean! For the board of cosmetology to decide that "duh..this ought to be bad coz..uh...we can't clean the tank" sounds so typically ignorant of the wealth of indigenous treatments. I bet the same board has no problems with quackery called Homeopathy, though. Besides why can't you clean a fish tank...$50 and a UV light will make the water drinkable let alone feet-washable.
riffran
Feb 26, 2009 3:37 AM CST
I heard they were also thinking of using them do debride wounds in feet ....yucko.....but then again, they use maggots and leeches in some specialized ares of medicine...who knows.....still kinda gross though
Doctor-Zaius
Feb 25, 2009 6:26 AM CST
They had to have been high to think this up.

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