As far as relaxing spa treatments go, a fish pedicure has to be last on the list. But, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. I've been wearing the same pair of patent leather flip-flops every day for the past four months while traveling in Asia. They walked through cities, beaches, climbed mountains and, on one occasion, almost walked through elephant dung. But while my trusty old pair of flip-flops are super cute and versatile, they just don’t fit my feet well.
Around the third week of my trip, I started developing nasty calluses that I began affectionately calling “sandpaper feet” that were impossible to repair. I've tried everything from exfoliants to pumice stones to pedicures, but no matter what I do, the cracked dead skin on my heels and toes just won't go away. So when I arrived in Thailand after three and a half months of foot abuse (which was literally unrecognizable at the time), I knew there was one thing I had to try: a fish pedicure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, a "fish pedicure" (also called a "fish spa") involves dipping your feet into a bucket filled with small fish (called "fish doctors"). They eat away the dead skin (ahem!!!) and leave behind new, soft skin. Ten U.S. states have banned these fish pedicures due to various cleaning issues, but the CDC is "not aware of any reports of illness resulting from fish pedicures."
I saw pregnant Kim K on KUWTK and tried it but swore it wasn't for me. I'm usually willing to try almost anything for the sake of beauty, but I find the idea of having little fish mouths all over me really disturbing. But I was desperate and I was in Thailand (the home of the fish pedicure) and it was only thanks to my poor little feet that I tried it.
After weeks of unsuccessful searches on TripAdvisor, the most decent place I found was the Relaxation Beach Spa in Phuket. The name is a complete joke because 1. it's not relaxing at all, 2. it's not on a beach, 3. calling it a "spa" is a pretty big stretch, it's basically two tanks full of fish and A massage chair haphazardly placed in the corner before I was allowed to put my feet up with the spa attendant. Insisted that they clean them thoroughly, which at least made me feel like the place was clean.
When it came time for the big event, I stuck my foot in the tank and the fish attacked. Naturally, I freaked F out. I started screaming (yes, okay, crying a little) and immediately jumped up.
But I'm a bit of a masochist when it comes to beauty treatments, and to be honest, I was really curious to see if these amazing fish would be the answer to my foot problems. So I sucked it up (pun intended) and then dipped them back in. I was supposed to sit there for 20 minutes but lasted 15 and then I couldn't take it anymore.
It's hard to describe what it feels like, except that you imagine having a hundred little fish mouths sucking on your feet, it's exactly the same. I'm not sure if the fish have teeth, but whatever they're doing, it's a combination of kissing, nibbling, and snapping...three things I usually enjoy. But just for reference? I don't like it in this case. On a scale of one to ten, I hate a million. Days later I could still feel the little ghost fish on my feet and wake up with nightmares about them eating my toes.
As for whether it's worth it? Absolutely not. After dealing with the baby piranhas (or whatever), my feet look okay , but there's no noticeable difference that makes me wish my life could go back to those 15 minutes. To be fair to hardworking fish, I think my feet were so dry and hardened that they couldn't grip the skin properly.
I think I will stick with my pumice stone from now on, no matter how ineffective it is.
Here are a few products I add to my daily routine to soften my feet, in addition to finally soaking it up and wearing my beloved patent leather flip-flops.
1. Foot exfoliation
BabyFoot One-Hour Treatment, $25, BabyFoot.com
For those of you who find that nothing in life is more satisfying than exfoliating dead skin, this BabyFoot Foot Mask is pretty much your dream come true. Apply the mask for 60-90 minutes, and within three to seven days, your feet will have lost the entire layer of dead skin, leaving behind fresh new skin.
2. Pumice stone
Cuccio Earth Lava Pumice Stone, $4.93, Amazon.com
These trusty stones aren't just great for pedicure chairs, they work great at home too. Keep one in the bathroom and give your feet a few minutes at the end of the shower before scrubbing them thoroughly once or twice a week.
3. Foot Scrub
Clarisonic Pedi-Buff Foot Smoothing Exfoliant, $27, sephora.com
If pumice stones scare you, this exfoliating foot scrub from Clarisonic is a great way to buff away dead skin. Make sure to use moisturizer afterwards for a super smooth finish.
