Exotic Foot Spa

Who wants a foot spa?

What do you have in mind?

…jojoba oil, olive oil, Vitamin E, lavender oil, tea tree foot soak, peppermint, lemon foot soak…
Do you have a favorite foot spa salon or do you want to do it at home?
A few weeks back, my students and I went to songkhla aquarium for an educational tour. As locals here they definitely know the place better than I do. They introduced me to this exotic foot spa where they frequently come. It is a fish foot spa to be exact. I couldn’t have imagined a foot spa in an aquarium park.  But anyway, it’s,  I think,  creative somehow as it doubly boosts tourism in this place.  While the kids are enjoying inside the aquarium Mom and Dad could have a bit of a bonding in the fish foot spa, or all the family members could enjoy this after a tiring tour inside the aquarium.

In a fish foot spa you are going to soak your feet in a tank of water for 20 to 30 minutes. In just a few seconds your feet will be swarmed by fish nibbling at your feet. This dead-skin-nibbling fish are called garra rufa popularly known as Doctor fish. If you’re ticklish then you’ll have endless time giggling.  I did not try it though I got scared. My imagination went overdrive lol. I thought of the movies “Piranha” and “Jaws”.  Yeah I know it’s really a bit too much of me to think that. Despite the realization of the superfluousness of my imagination, I still could not bring myself to do it. On a serious note, I had a bit of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) syndrome attack. I was not particularly sure if they change water in the tank. If they do, how often? What if I precede someone who has athletes foot for example.  Anyway,I was just being cautious.

My kids had a blast.

It was approved by their parents. So I did not stand in the way of their enjoyment. ^_^

 

 

 

garrra  garra

 

Linking with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
You might also like

Collage21022431

 

Our family’s Precious Weekend: Songkhla Aquarium

 

Health Issues About Fish Foot Spa

Fish foot spa involves putting your feet in a tank of water full of garra rufa fish. Doctor fish which they are better known will nibble at your feet exfoliating dead skin cells.  In some other salon they do full body exfoliation.  This kind of foot spa or therapy is very popular in Thailand.  It is found in every street, in almost all malls in Bangkok, and even in an aquarium park in Songkhla Thailand. It is one of the must-go and must-to-do agenda whenever island hopping here.  Each island has their own style and presentation.  Fish foot spa is very popular in Asia most especially in Thailand, but it is also gaining popularity in the UK.

fishspa

 

 

Amidst this craze, let us stop and listen to what health officials have to say.

1.  It may carry bacteria that causes skin and soft tissue infections.  These bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

2.  It can spread HIV and Hepatitis.

 

To foot salon owners. Strict precaution should be observed.  Those who have weakened immune system brought by psoriasis, AIDS, cancer, and even those that have open sore and cut should stay away from this.  Foot spa salon should follow very strict cleanliness procedure, making sure that the water is changed after each client.  They should come up with some sort of  health screening  with their customers.

To the customers. It should be noted that the infection could be incurred not only from the water tank, but also from the fish.  In this case, sterilization is impossible as it will harm the fish.

To animal lovers.  These fish are starved to entice them to feed on dead human skin.

 

For detailed report on this, read.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/fish-pedicure-infections/story?id=16348565

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/18/fish-foot-spas-could-spread-hiv-and-hepatitis/

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easier-stuff/225723/the-downside-of-fish-spas

http://www.webmd.boots.com/foot-care/features/fish-spa-pedicure-health-concerns

 

You might also like

departure

 

Don’t Mess With The Immigration Officers