A fish pedicure involves dipping the feet into a container of water that is filled with fish. These fish, Garra rufa, which sometimes get called “doctor fish”, then eat the dead skin off the feet giving a pedicure
These fish pedicures are popular in Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries. The Garra rufa that are used fish are native to the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. They are allowed in some places in the United States and banned in others.
The use of the fish pedicure became popular because the fish are able to exfoliate and soften the feet in a non-painful way. The procedure tickles the feet but does not hurt, but it is not for the faint-heated. These fish pedicures pose both health and environmental risks, and there are safety concerns about a fish pedicure.
