Why Fish Spas Have Already Been Banned In 10 States

As the weather changes, skin has a way of reacting. As temperatures fluctuate, skin can easily go from smooth and glowing to dry and flaky. Yet it seems that no matter where in the year we are, our feet are always in need of a little care. This leads some style-conscious folks to seek exfoliation to keep their feet clean, soft and refreshed.

To achieve this, some spas are offering a unique treatment. Rather than toil on your feet yourself, they make it possible to stick them in special fish tanks and let the little nibblers take care of the problem for you. On the surface, it seems like you can’t lose, because the fish eat away at the dead skin without bothering the healthy skin.

Yet, the process isn’t quite as easy as it seems and public health officials are concerned that these “fish spas” may be unsafe for customers. The CDC  has stated that over 10 states have banned the practice.

Today, we’re going to find out why and help you decide whether trying it for yourself is a good idea.

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First, let’s meet the fish responsible.

The fish are called Garra rufa and are sometimes known as “doctor fish” because of their supposed ability to treat skin diseases. These are tiny, toothless fish native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran where they’ve picked up their helpful reputation.

To customers, the process starts as a tickle and ends up feeling like a tiny massage.

While the tiny fish definitely exfoliate the feet, some proponents of the treatment claim they also improve circulation, reduce foot odor, help with athlete’s foot, and alleviate psoriasis and eczema. 

This certainly sounds like an impressive list of benefits worthy of a “doctor fish”

However, there’s no scientific evidence that the fish can treat any of these problems right now. Until the research comes in, it can only be said that the fish eat dead skin off the feet.

In particular, doctors are calling the treatment’s effects on psoriasis and eczema into question.

The National Eczema Society and the Psoriasis Association have both said that patients suffering from either problem will only raise their risk of infection by using the fish.The reason is also a big part of why so many states are keen to ban this practice.