Bizarre Treatments: Yay or nay?

A few months ago I had posted an item on a bizarre spa treatment that utilizes hundreds of tiny fish to remove dead skin during a pedicure. I wasn't sure what to think of it but as I have been reading more on outlandish spa treatments like these it has become apparent to me that they are not a very good idea. No one is really sure of the effects of treatments like these. When receiving a pedicure or other treatment, sterilization is SO important. When you throw hundreds of fish into the situation it makes for quite a volatile environment. Bacteria is more likely to grow and get into the blood stream when you're dealing with live animals. In an article on forbes.com I came across reactions to spa gimmicks like this and the snake massage, Leslie Baumann, M.D., director of the Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute at the University of Miami and Bonnie Bonadeo, director of program development and education at the Professional Beauty Association, stated:

"Normal pedicures alone can be harmful if the sink and tools are not sanitized," Baumann says. "The fish are just another element of hygiene to worry about."

Aside from the possible harmful side affects, many of these treatments are no more effective than their mainstream counterparts.

"You don’t need a gimmick to meet your beauty needs," Bonadeo says. "You can use a loofah or pumice stone to remove calluses just as easily as having fish chomping at your skin."