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A recent craze taking the spa industry by storm is the use of fish in pedicures. Garra Rufa are inch long silvery orange carp known as ‘Doctor Fish’, ‘Nibble Fish’, ‘Kangal’ and ‘Reddish log suckers’. They are used in ichthyotherapy which involves clients immersing their feet in warm fish pools to have their feet nibbled. The Garra Rufa remove dead skin leaving feet feeling smooth and are said to aid skin conditions such as Psoriasis. One such spa Chain is Appy Feet which has opened successful businesses in shopping Centres around the UK.
The Heath Protection Agency in the UK has some concerns about the safety of the procedure and the risk of the spread of infection. However reputable spas require their customers to dip their feet into antiseptic prior to treatment and also filter the water. The danger arises from fake spas that use cheap alternatives to Garra Rufa such as Chin Chin or the Nile Tilapia. Garra Rufa do not have teeth so if the customer feels a pricking sensation while in the foot spa then the fish are something else! This is dangerous because the fish are breaking new skin. In an establishment where cost cutting is likely to compromise cleanliness the client’s health is in danger. Research the Spa business carefully before you book because nobody wants to put their feet into a pool of baby piranhas!
The Garra Rufa procedure may seem alarming to some, but when you think that leeches are used in surgery and ant mandibles have been used to close wounds, fish nibbling doesn’t seem so unusual.
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