Belfast - Health experts are investigating the potential risks of people catching infections from fish pedicures.
The popular high street treatment involves customers putting their feet in tanks of water containing dozens of tiny garra rufa fish, which nibble on dead skin.
The Public Health Agency has advised people to avoid having fish pedicures after health and safety concerns were raised.
The practice has been banned in a number of American states and Canadian provinces, but is proving popular in Northern Ireland as a pampering session for men and women.
Silky Soles has installed fish stations in terminals at Belfast International Airport and Appy Feet opened a branch in Belfast's CastleCourt before Christmas.
At present, the Health Protection Agency in England is “risk assessing” the foot treatment after being contacted by environmental health officers concerned the increasingly popular pedicure could spread diseases from person to person through open wounds.
However, a spokeswoman for the Public Health Agency (PHA) said: “The PHA has not been approached by environmental health to investigate fish pedicures in Northern Ireland.
“However, the PHA would advise that people avoid having fish pedicures, as it is not guaranteed that there is no risk of infection.”
A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council explained it is usually the enforcing authority for health and safety in premises which carry out beauty treatments.
She added: “Fish pedicures are a relatively new introduction to the UK and there is currently research being carried out in GB into the health effects of such treatments.
“When the research is complete it is expected that guidance will be released to district council environmental health departments.”
When the Belfast Telegraph contacted Silky Soles, its director Sue Taylor said: “We welcome legislation and consider our clients' health and safety as a paramount part of our popular therapeutic business.
“We founded the business on the development of an advanced filtration system.”
The director added: “We have worked alongside the Sheffield Environmental Agency and other EAs to ensure that our filtration system's weekly and daily maintenance testing and monthly servicing systems meet rigorous testing.
“The Silky Soles staff and operation teams are continuously evolving practice to ensure we deliver a safe and premium service.”
An Appy Feet spokeswoman said: “We always treat the safety and wellbeing of both our customers and fish as our top priority.
“Appy Feet provides a natural pedicure using live fish and therefore we operate under strict guidelines with customer health front of mind.
“Our tanks are operated in line with industry regulations and the fish are kept in tanks with UV sterilisers and automatic water changers.
“Appy Feet have a specially designed filtration system which sterilises the water at least eight times an hour.”
Originating in Turkey, garra rufa fishare also known as doctor fish, nibble fish or little dermatologist because of their use in treating skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. The toothless fish only work on unhealthy or dead skin, leaving healthy skin untouched. In recent years their popularity has grown at UK spas as an alternative to pedicures. - Belfast Telegraph