Fish Pedicure

Coddle in the luxury of nature and allow the masters of nature to clean your feet. Enjoy the tickling sensation in your feet while your feet are cleaned by fishes. Cleaning the dead skin off your feet minus the scrapers, pumice and blades is real fun - experience it to feel the difference. Read more on a fish pedicure.

What is fish pedicure?

Fishes gnaw away the dead skin in a person's feet thereby cleaning the feet - this is called fish pedicure. Garra rufa, also popular as the doctor fish, are used for fish pedicure. These fishes were initially popular in Turkey and slowly made their way into Asian countries and rest of the world. Since these fishes are toothless they can gently gnaw into the dead skin and clear away the unwanted top layer of the soles of the feet.

They cannot bite into the live skin as they are toothless. This procedure is harmless and completely safe. These fishes can wonderfully work on calluses and other tough growth on the feet. They just nibble into them and soften the feet. Obese people, people standing for long hours at work, dancers and athletes can benefit immensely from fish pedicure.

Fish pedicure procedure

Customers are requested to immerse their feet in water tanks that contain the doctor fish. They should keep their feet immersed in the tank for 15 to 30 minutes after which a routine pedicure session is carried out. During this period the fishes clean as much dead skin as possible leaving your feet shiny and soft. The routine pedicure session consists of feet massage, scrubbing, nail trimming and toe polishing.

Dr. Fish, the cleaner

Garra rufa or the doctor fish is available aplenty in the hot springs of Kanga in Turkey. These fishes were found to have a unique eating habit, they ate away the dead and the diseased skin of the bathers since no aquatic life was possible in these hot springs owing to the high temperature of the water.

These fishes are also popular as Kangal fish, nibble fish, lickers and reddish log suckers. They grow to a size of 19 cm and are toothless. They feed on the dead skin smoothened by the hot water of the hot springs. Another variety of fish called the cyprinion macrostomus is also used for fish pedicure.

In the European countries and the United States, spas grow these fishes in tanks. Customers soak their feet in these tanks and the fishes in the tank feast on the dead skin of the customer. At the end of the process, the customer has glowing healthy feet minus the dead skin.

Where can you find fish pedicure

Fish pedicure is very popular in Turkey and many of the Asian countries. In the United States, fish pedicure is getting popular by the day; there is one spa in Washington DC that offers this pedicure. This service started off in 2008.

Benefits of fish pedicure

• Corns, calluses, heel fissures and other foot conditions that can lead to major foot problems can be prevented through fish pedicure.
  
  
• The feet are the most exposed part of the body. With a fish pedicure the feet are well hydrated and gain a fresh, soft and supple look.
  
  
• Normal pedicure processes could lead to cuts thereby causing infections. With this type of pedicure no blades are used thus making it a safe pedicure procedure.
  
  
• The overall cleanliness of the feet is improved.
  
  
• You can prevent Athlete's foot as the dead skin and the superficial layer of the sole of the feet is exfoliated thoroughly.
  
  
• Fish pedicure helps people with arthritis as this pedicure involves heat treatment.
  
  
• If you choose this type of pedicure, make sure that the water in the tub is changed before you use it.