Acid Pedicure: Features, Pros and Cons

• 1. What Is Acid Pedicure?
  • 1.1 Pedicure with Fruit Acid
  • 1.2 Acid Pedicure with Urea
  • 1.3 Alkaline Pedicure
• 2. How Is Acid Pedicure Done?
• 3. Pros and Cons of Acid Pedicure
  • 3.1 Pros of Acid Pedicure in a Salon
  • 3.2 Cons of Acid Pedicure
• 4. Contraindications

What is the acid pedicure? What does it involve? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Let’s find out.

What Is Acid Pedicure?

The acid pedicure is one of the most modern and considered one of the safest pedicure types. It doesn’t involve cutting cuticles or soaking feet in water. To soften the skin, nail techs use keratolytics — softening formulas that contain safe components like enzymes, proteins, micelles as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal agents.

Such pedicure products are divided into acidic and alkaline and can come in the form of cream, gel, spray, or foam. They usually go together with neutralizers that should be used after the product.

More on this topic: Women’s Pedicure: Types, Features, Pros and Cons

Pedicure with Fruit Acid

Creams or gels containing natural fruit acid are applied to coarse skin on the heels and other problem areas. Acidic keratolytics work carefully and safely, without making the skin dry or damaging healthy skin. The components penetrate into coarse tissue and soften it, allowing nail technicians to remove it carefully and safely with a spatula or a special file. The acid pedicure is great for healthy feet and somewhat resembles a high-quality peeling.

Acid Pedicure with Urea

This pedicure type uses urea-containing products that are safe and boast a cicatrizing and moisturizing effect. They easily soften corns and calluses and can treat deep cracks. But keep in mind that it’s better to apply them only to problem areas, because if these products come in contact with healthy skin, they can cause an allergic reaction. To avoid this risk, choose formulas with no more than 10% of urea.

Alkaline Pedicure

The main active component in this type of pedicure is low-concentration alkali. It aggressively treats coarse skin on the feet, including corns and calluses, softening it and allowing to remove the coarse epidermis layer painlessly. Remember to follow the instructions carefully to avoid getting a chemical burn.

How Is Acid Pedicure Done?

The main distinctive feature of the procedure is the use of special softening agents to treat coarse skin on your feet. The acid pedicure often features elements of the Russian pedicure, involving treatment with an e-file. The combination of these two methods provides for the best result.

Before the procedure, a nail tech must examine the feet to find all corns, calluses, cracks, or fungus. The skin must be intact — it’s a very important condition, or else the procedure may be painful and result in complications.

Here are the stages of acid pedicure:

1. cleaning the skin with micellar products that have an antiviral and disinfecting effect
2. applying keratolytic according to the instructions (you should observe the time and follow the foot wrapping procedure exactly)
3. wiping off the product
4. carefully filing problem areas with an e-file, spatula, or grater
5. treating cuticles and nail folds
6. applying neutralizer or washing off the remnants of the product with water
7. massaging the feet.

The effect from the procedure lasts for about two months. For the best result, it’s advised to do it once a month.

Pros and Cons of Acid Pedicure

Pros of Acid Pedicure in a Salon

According to reviews at beauty forums, getting acid pedicure in a salon has only benefits:

• It is safe as it doesn’t involve using cutting tools, which eliminates the risk of damaging the skin and getting an infection.
• Products used in acid pedicure contain natural ingredients, thanks to which they are safe for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and people with diabetes.
• This pedicure type is suitable for very sensitive and thin skin on the feet.
• It effectively deals with corns and deep cracks.
• The procedure doesn’t involve soaking your feet.
• It helps to regulate sweating of the feet (hyperhidrosis).
• The procedure is quick as the products may sit on the skin for only 3-15 minutes.
• It has an accumulative effect, slowing down the process of skin thickening, which allows getting an acid pedicure every 6-8 weeks.

Cons of Acid Pedicure

It has few minuses:

• a high cost
• the risk of getting an allergic reaction or a burn if you don’t follow the instructions carefully
• unpleasant smells.

Contraindications

The contraindications for the acid pedicure are the same as for most other pedicure types:

• fungal infections of skin and nails
• open wounds or damaged skin
• water blisters
• allergy to components of the products used in the procedure.

The acid pedicure is a popular modern procedure to make your feet healthy and beautiful. It takes less time than other pedicure types, is painless and safe. The effect from an acid pedicure lasts for up to two months.