Manicures

mokenagirl

Hello-

I am stage 0 lymphedema. Of course, I would like to keep it that way.

The question is to manicure (fake nails) or not to manicure ? 

Would you risk going to a nail salon where they don't speak good english to save a buck?

Thanks in advance,

Barb  

Binney4

Wow, Barb, there's a lot you have to communicate in order to be safe with a manicure. If saving a buck costs you a week or more of infection, it sure isn't worth it. Some tips for manicures with lymphedema here:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_with_Lymphedema.htm#Manicures

Let us know how it goes! Be well,
Binney

OneBadBoob

Hi Barb-

It is absolutely NOT a good idea to compromise on hygiene and/or care of your nails to save a few dollars.

Please find a place where at least one person speak English well, and also bring all of our own tools.  Most nail salons will give you a "box" with your name on it where you can store them at the salon.

Also, if they are using a dremmel, please look for a place where they have an autoclave where they sterilize the tips between patrons.

Please also follow the suggestions on the Step-Up website which Binney has linked to above.

I have been using the same lady, and have explained to her my problem that I do not want my cuticles cut, and that she must be very careful with the dremmel or she will never see me again.

Afterwards, she sprays my hands thoroughly with Sea Breeze, and when I get home, I give them an "alcohol dip" to make sure they are germ free, and I also cream my hands with Lotromin (anti-fungal cream)  and my feet with it also after pedicures, in case I could have picked up any fungus.

p.s.  the co-pays and troubles you would go through should you end up with a bout of cellulitis would be much more than the "few bucks" you would save by going to a cheaper salon.

carol57

One of the best ways to make sure you and a manicurist are never tempted to cut a cuticle is to keep them nice and supple, so they can be pushed back instead of trimmed. I struggled with dry, ragged cuticles for years, despite using lotions, oils, vaseline.  Then someone suggested a product called Qtica intense cuticle repair balm, and for months now, I have been amazed. It's not cheap --about $15 with shipping if you buy it online, but the tiniest smidge does the job, so it lasts forever. I wash my hands a lot and my cuticles would literally dry to the point of bleeding, but no more.

exbrnxgrl

Have you considered a gel polish manicure instead of artificial nails? They last for weeks and really harden your natural nails to allow them to grow. I had several at the salon but they can get pricey. ULTA sells a DIY kit , Red Carpet Manicure, that is surprisingly easy to use, even for a klutz like me. Now I do my own nails every two weeks without worry about salon hygiene. Actually, I'm quite fascinated by the whole process and the great colors so I sometimes re-do more often. They never chip and maintain a beautiful high gloss.

Caryn

cookiegal

I stopped getting mani's for a while, eventually I started getting them again. Ironically my manicurist is a BC survivor, didn't know this until I got it. I picked her because she had short hair so I figured she was artistic. HA! It was chemo.

That being said she doesn't speak much english, but she gets it.