Podiatrist Muharrem Tosun, drawing attention to the hygiene and educational aspects of nail care services offered in neighborhood beauty centers, stated that podiatrists focus not only on aesthetics but also on medical care.
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun said, “Podiatrists are specialists particularly in the field of foot health. They deal with problems such as ingrown nails, calluses, nail fungus, and deformed nails. They can also perform medical foot care. Prioritizing health over aesthetic concerns, they apply personalized medical care.”
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services Podology Program evaluated the topic of hand and foot nail care.
“The Number of Uncertified Workers is Not Insignificant”
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun stated that the education level and certification status of nail care specialists working in neighborhood establishments can vary, saying, “Although some individuals receive basic training by attending beauty courses, many have learned this trade entirely through experience. The number of uncertified workers is quite significant. This situation can pose risks, especially in terms of hygiene and health, because individuals without professional training may lack sufficient knowledge about infectious diseases such as infections, fungi, and warts, or skin conditions.”
“These Trainings Do Not Include Medical Knowledge”
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun stated that individuals providing nail care services usually gain competence through short-term courses, saying, “They generally receive basic training in topics such as manicure-pedicure, hand-foot care, and artificial nails by attending short-term beauty and care courses. Some also obtain certificates at the end of these courses. However, these trainings do not include medical knowledge; therefore, they do not have the authority to intervene in health-related issues. Their competence is mostly limited to the field of aesthetic and cosmetic care.”
“Use of Sterile Equipment and Gloves is Vital”
Podiatrist Muharrem Tosun, emphasizing that serious infection risks can arise if hygiene rules are not followed, stated, “These individuals must prefer sterilized or single-use materials for each customer. The use of gloves, cleanliness of hands and the workspace are very important. They must meticulously adhere to hygiene rules to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as nail fungus, warts, and infections. Furthermore, if they observe any symptoms of a health problem, they should refrain from performing the procedure and direct the person to a specialist.”
“Podiatrists Are Specialists in Foot Health”
Tosun stated that podiatrists focus not only on aesthetics but also on medical care, saying, “Podiatrists are specialists, especially in the field of foot health. They deal with problems such as ingrown nails, calluses, nail fungus, and deformed nails. They can also perform medical foot care. Prioritizing health over aesthetic concerns, they apply personalized medical care. Podiatrists offer support not only for nail care but also in specialized health areas such as diabetic foot care, athlete's foot care, and foot care for pregnant women.”
“Nail Care Plays an Important Role in Early Detection of Health Problems”
Muharrem Tosun stated that podiatrists carefully examine changes in nail structure, saying, “During care, podiatrists pay attention to details such as the color, structure, thickness, and shape of the nails to detect possible health-related problems. For example, they can early identify conditions such as nail fungus, circulatory disorders, or diabetic complications. They also collaborate with specialist physicians by working multidisciplinarily on such issues. Thus, by intervening in problems timely, they prevent serious health problems. During the treatment process, they follow scientific methods and use medical instruments to offer pain-free and hygienic solutions.”
“Regular Nail Care Improves Quality of Life”
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun, stating that nail care is important not only for appearance but also for quality of life, continued:
“Regular nail care is important not only aesthetically but also for health. Care can prevent undesirable conditions such as fungus, thickening, and ingrown nails that may occur in the nail. Furthermore, symptoms of some diseases can also manifest as discolorations and deformities in the nails. Especially in elderly individuals and diabetic patients, nail thickening is observed, and these individuals find it difficult to cut their own nails at home, which negatively affects their social life. With nail care provided to these individuals, their quality of life can be improved, and the risk of infection that may occur in the foot can be prevented.
Podiatrists, when they detect a health problem during the procedure, can primarily perform procedures within their duties and responsibilities. In situations exceeding their responsibilities, as a result of the training they received, they know which specialist in which field to direct the person to. Thus, since the health problem will be intervened with a timely and correct approach, they also offer a holistic health approach.'”
“Use of Sterilization Device is Essential”
Lecturer Muharrem Tosun, reminding that the most important risk in nail care is infection transmission, concluded his words by saying, “Studies have shown that the most significant risk observed during nail procedures is the risk of infection transmission. For this reason, all equipment to be used must be sterilized in sterilization devices such as autoclaves. I kindly request individuals to pay special attention to this matter.”