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Fish spas – boon or bane?

Fish spa

Tiny fishes gnawing into your skin as you try, relax and rejuvenate sounds a bit scary but is not all that weird. Unheard of a few years back, fish foot spas are cropping up everywhere today and have become a fad. A cleansing technique, it first came to light in Turkey in the early 1900s. However, some evidence suggests that fishes have been in use to treat people with skin problems since 1900s. So, it is not a new concept but the beauty industry is only now waking up to it. It was first used to treat people suffering with psoriasis and eczema. However, lately it has come to light that fish spas can pose some health hazards and therefore, should be avoided. Lets get you a lowdown on fish foot spa and everything else associated with it.

What is fish spa?

Fish spa is a treatment whereby the Garra Rufa fish is used to treat patients suffering from psoriasis. These fishes mostly breed in pools in certain Turkish areas. However, today it is no longer restricted to medical purposes but is also used to get rid of dead cells to give you a soft and clean skin. The Garra Rufa fish only feeds on the affected parts of the person. It gnaws on the dead skin leaving the customer with a fresh skin. Patients who are undergoing treatment for psoriasis or any other skin problem have to make regular visits to these spas as it is not a permanent treatment.

How is it done?

The procedure is very simple. A small tank of water is filled with Garra Rufa fish. The person then submerges the infected part ( or the part that he/she wishes to cleanse ) into the tank. The Garra Rufa fish then slowly feeds on the loose and dead parts of the skin. These fish will not touch the good part of the skin. Time taken to treat a part depends on the number of fishes working on that part of the body. After the treatment, the skin feels smoother as the fishes exfoliate your skin.

Pros

The biggest plus point of fish foot pedicure is that it helps get rid of dead skin. Also, this spa is not restricted to just the foot, you can also get a fish manicure done. These pedicures and manicures are extremely beneficial and the results are there for all to see. A lot of research is still being carried out in this field and latest results talk about an enzyme secreted by the Garra Rufa which is believed to be beneficial to the human skin.

Setting up a fish spa at salons is also simple. The tanks take less space and are easy to set up.

Besides, a fish spa is known to deliver results in cases of skin problems such as, psoriasis and eczema. As we said earlier, this was the very reason why fish spas became popular.

Cons

Should fish spas be allowed to function and whether they are safe is a question that has been rising lately. In fact, fish spas are banned in some parts of America and Canada as cosmetologists they look upon it as unsanitary. Research also said that fish spas pose the danger of spreading HIV and Hepatitis C. The report also says that people suffering from diabetes, psoriasis and a weak immune system should stay away from fish pedicures and manicures. There is added danger of bacteria and infections being passed on to others as normally the water is not changed. HIV and Hepatitis virus may be passed on in a similar manner if the customer is bleeding. The negative aspects of fish pedicures and manicures are still being studied but whatever has been found out cannot be ignored.

Price

Prices vary depending on the spa and it’s location. If a salon is catering to upmarket clients then it is bound to be costlier. However, fish spas have cropped up in malls, salons and fashion shops and offer fish spa services at varied costs. A dollar for a minute’s service is not unusual. So check your pockets before entering a fish spa.

Do it yourself

Yes, you can have your very own fish foot spa at home. There are various offers available in the market whereby you can get a customized fish foot spa set up at your home. It proves to be cheaper as compared to regular visits to a salon. However, these fishes are costly and you’ll have to shell out a huge sum initially. So now you enjoy a fish pedicure or a manicure in the comfort of your home. As these fish spas are quite a fad at parties, you can also impress guests with your personal fish spa.

Fish foot spa is, no doubt, a huge trend today. But as you just saw, it has its plus and minus points. While it gives you a smooth and supple skin, it can also harm you in more ways than one. So it’s up to you to decide whether you want to be chewed on by these tiny fishes or not.

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