Hands On Tips For Manicures And Pedicures

HANDS ON TIPS FOR MANICURES AND PEDICURES

The winter doldrums inspires dreams of open toed shoes, and bare footed saunters through the surf and sand.  Which in turn prompts many of us to get out of our winter funk by scurrying out to the nearest beauty salon to get a matching manicure and pedicure.  Before you pamper yourself from head to toe, check out your beauty salon carefully, and make sure that it is clean, licensed, and safe.  Vanity does not have to come at a price.
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Always Pamper With Care – Outbreaks of skin infections among nail salon patrons are not out of the norm.  This should not scare you away from getting a manicure or pedicure, but it should give you pause, and induce you to always pamper yourself with concerted care.  Before you opt to have your toes and nails manicured, and adorned with the trendiest color, perform the white glove test, and scrutinize your surroundings for cleanliness.  You should make sure that there is adequate ventilation.  You should never be bowled over by the release of noxious fumes created by artificial nail products, nail polish, or other chemicals.  An overpowering odor can also warn that the salon is using methyl methacrylate (MMA) which is an inexpensive ingredient sometimes found in artificial nail products that can cause adverse reactions in some individuals.  The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning against using this product.  Be sure to ask whether your manicurist is using MMA.  If a salon is offering very inexpensive acrylic nails, this may be a red flag that they are using MMA.  You also want to make sure that clean towels and implements are used on each client.  Be leery of a salon that touts “low-low” prices.  If there is any question that the shop is not clean or safe, or if there is the suspicion that lower-quality products are being used, let your tootsies do the walking.  If it costs you your health, beauty is no bargain.
Foot The Bill Safely – Before you get gussied up, make sure that your manicurist has thoroughly washed his or her hands.  Before working on your nails, your manicurist should put a clean towel on the workstation, and provide you with a fresh bowl of soapy water to soak your nails.  All bottles and containers should be clearly labeled with a listing of ingredients.  All clippers, nail-care tools, instruments, utensils and appliances should be sanitized immediately after each use, and maintained in sanitary conditions at all times.  Soiled instruments should never be kept together with clean instruments.  Don’t be shy about inquiring how the salon sterilizes its’ instruments, autoclaving (heat sterilization) is preferable.  Any equipment that cannot be adequately disinfected, such as nail buffers, emery boards, toe separators, and orange sticks, should give you pause.  You might want to consider bringing your own manicure and pedicure equipment with you to ensure that the instruments will not be used on anyone else but you.  Before you dip your toes in a footbath for your pedicure, make sure that the water is changed, and the tubs are wiped down and disinfected between customers.  Also inquire how often the filters are replaced and disinfected.  If you are diabetic or have other medical conditions, speak with your doctor before you go to the salon.  If the skin around your nail becomes painful, red, or inflamed, seek medical attention immediately.  Manicures and pedicures should not be painful, or costly to your beauty or health.

Check The Salon From Head To Toe – Most states have laws that require that nail salons and manicurists be licensed. Look to see that the licenses of the salon and manicurist are posted in a conspicuous location.  Take matters in your own hands, and check to see if a particular salon or manicurist is licensed and in good standing.  Your can contact the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology at 1-717-783-7130.

Consumer Tip:  Tax season is fast approaching, and The Internal Revenue Service has toll-free numbers to provide you with tax information.  If you have not yet received your tax refund, you should call the IRS Refund Hotline at: 1-800-829-1954.  If you have tax questions about small businesses, corporations, partnerships, and estate taxes, of if you need to apply for an “employer identification number,” contact the IRS Business and Specialty Tax-Line at: 1-800-829-4933.  If you have general questions pertaining to your taxes, contact the IRS Tax Help-Line at: 1-800-829-1040.

Please send your consumer and legal questions to Elisha Hoffman Abrams, Esq. at elisha.abrams@gmail.com, or write to 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 1C-46, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Tel: 215-765-4828, Web Address: www.legallyinformed.com.

Twitter: legallyinformed@twitter.com

© Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Information on this blog should not be relied on as legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.  An attorney-client relationship is not created until a retainer agreement is signed.

 

SWINE FLU ALERT

H1N1 ALERT: Beware of bogus claims promising magic elixirs to fight H1N1.  The FDA has issued an alert to tread with extreme caution when purchasing any products that claim to “diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure” H1N1.  Many of the items being peddled are not only ineffective, but they could be dangerous.  If you have health concerns, you should contact your health care provider.  For up to date information about H1N1 go to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention www.cdc.gov and the Food And Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov.

Please send your legal and consumer questions to elisha.abrams@gmail.com, or write to 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 1C-46, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Tel: 215-765-4828, Web Address: http://www.legallyinformed.com

Twitter: legallyinformed@twitter.com

© Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Get A Medical Privacy Check-UP

GET A MEDICAL PRIVACY CHECK-UP

How private is your medical information, and is it insulated from nefarious prying eyes?  Whenever you go to the doctor, dentist, hospital, pharmacy, or contact your health insurer, you are divulging confidential health information that should be protected from getting in the wrong hands.  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that requires health care providers to take measures to protect your medical privacy.  If your medical history is an open book for all to see, now is the time to start a new chapter, and take steps to ensure your privacy rights under HIPAA.

Assert Your Prescribed Rights

Next time you go to the hospital, see your doctor or pharmacist, or speak with your health plan, you will be given a privacy notice.  This notice will explain their privacy practices, and how your health care provider will use, share, and disclose your personal medical information.  You will also be asked to complete authorization forms that will give you the right to consent to, or opt out of having your health information disclosed or shared with family members, friends, employers, life insurers, marketing firms, or other third parties.  These privacy notices and authorization forms can be lengthy, convoluted, and confusing. Read and understand the fine print, and if you have questions, do not hesitate to speak with your health care provider before you agree to sign them.  If you are admitted into the hospital, you can choose to not be listed in the hospital’s directory.  This directory usually has the patient’s name, condition, and room number.  Caveat, if you opt to not be listed, this will mean that friends, family members, or well-wishers will be unable to find out anything about you.  Also, do not count on having any cards, balloons, or flowers delivered to your hospital room.  If you want your health care provider to be able to discuss your medical information with your spouse, friend, or family member, be sure to sign a consent form that authorizes your doctor, pharmacist, or health plan to share and discuss your information with them.  You also want to make sure that your medical power of attorney provides that your medical information that is protected by HIPAA may be disclosed to your designated agent in your power of attorney.   You can also request that your provider send your health information to a particular address, or that they contact you at a particular number.

Check Up On Your Privacy

Under HIPAA, you have the right to see and obtain copies of your medical records.  It is good medicine to exercise this right to insure that your records are accurate.  If you do discover inaccuracies in your records, you can ask to have them corrected.  You should be provided access to your records within thirty days, and you may be charged for the cost of copying and delivery.  If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated under HIPAA, you should contact your health care provider, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at: 1-800-368-1019. For more detailed information about HIPAA access: www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa, or call the HIPAA Hotline at: 1-866-627-7748.

Consumer Alert: Be extra vigilant if you opt to divulge your personal information on surveys, health screenings, sweepstakes, or on health web sites.  Always, look at the privacy policy, and ask how your information will be used and accessed.

Please send your legal and consumer questions to elisha.abrams@gmail.com, or write to 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 1C-46Philadelphia, PA 19130, Tel: 215-765-4828, Web Address: http://www.legallyinformed.com

© Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Elisha Hoffman Abrams and LegallyInformed’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.