The warm water is bubbling, the comfy massage chair is vibrating, but Shannon Minardi won't rush to take off her shoes. Before she hands her feet over to a pedicurist, she scans the beauty shop for warning signs. If so, Minardi turns on her unpampered heel and leaves. So I watch what they do before I get one. Minardi's caution is rare.
People generally associate pedicures with relaxation, fun, even good health.
Though people rarely think about the potential dangers that lurk in nail salons, it only takes one bad experience to change a person's outlook. She's considerably less proud of the scars that now cover her legs, the result of an infection caused by Mycobacterium smegmatis. It was small at first, but then swollen and purple. It grew in size. And then it spread.