A fish pedicure is the use of the live fish, Garra rufa, to “eat” and remove the dead skin on the feet. It is something that is not for the squeamish, but does appear to be quite popular in some places.
The fish pedicure is actually banned in several USA states for hygiene reasons as concerns have been raised regarding infection control as the fish can not be ‘sterilized’ nor discarded after each treatment due to cost. The water used in the pedicure can be sterilized and any cuts or breaks in the skin should preclude any one from having the treatment, so the risk of infection is very low if proper attention is paid to hygiene.
