In today’s paper, I wrote a story about an infection one woman got from an area salon that left her legs badly scarred. A dangerous bacteria had grown in the foot spa, where customers soak their feet when getting a pedicure.  Read the story here.

Researching this story gave me pause. I never thought twice when going to get a little pampering. I didn’t realize such rigorous cleaning procedures are required (which I don’t recall ever seeing an employee do). I am also surprised there’s no way for people in Missouri and Illinois to know if their salons have ever been lax. If a salon has a violation and fixes it, those violation records are closed to the public.  Only records where punishment is doled out are public.

I wonder if there are more problems I’ve never heard of. Anyone out there ever gotten an infection at an area nail salon? Ever tried to report a violation to the state? Help inform each other!