Shutdown of Fish Spa in Singapore & US

Previously reviewed Kenko Fish Spa in Pavillion KL, The Garra Rufa Fish Therapy spa in Bangsar and also the Kampung Fish Therapy Garra Rufa Spa in Singapore. Comparisons between real and fake Garra Rufa fish (Chin Chin fish) was also discussed here.

These fish spas have been popping up all over Malaysia and Singapore like wild mushrooms as everyone tries to take advantage of these little fish whom many claim are highly effective in eating away dead skin cells and aiding skin repair and regeneration. However, the hygiene of these spas are often questionable especially when some merely offer a big tub of water filled with little fake Garra Rufa fish where the bottom is dirty and the water is not filtered and cleaned. They charge very little for a 5 to 15 minute “treatment” but the thought of infections or skin diseases spreading through these fake Garra Rufa and dirty tub water is indeed scary.
The health risks and questionable effectiveness of fish treatments has led to the closure and shutdown of fish spas in Singapore and Dallas, US.

The Spa Association Singapore has said that banning fish-spa treatments such as Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa and Qian Hu Fish Farm is the way to go and it did not encourage its members here to provide the service for safety and hygiene reasons.
More reputable members use filtration systems and ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in the water and also check that their customers are clear of wounds.
At least two complaints have emerged this year against fish spas - the Consumers Association of Singapore received one, and The New Paper ran a report on two sisters who caught fungal infections from a fish spa. (source)
On the other side of the globe, this treatment of letting live fish give people pedicures is now banned in Washington and Texas.
Ms Christine Anthony, spokesman for the Washington Department of Licensing, said it was impossible to sanitise live fish. ‘You can clean the tank, you can clean the water, but there’s no guarantee that the fish aren’t carrying something from the previous customer,’ she was quoted as saying by Seattle Times.
Officials also said the foot baths and holding tanks, because they are home to live fish, cannot always be properly cleaned and disinfected.

Hence, although it might be a novel pedicure that is the current rage, do exercise caution before you dip your feet and legs to be nibbled by those little fish. This is especially so if the place you frequent uses fake Garra Rufa fish such as Chin Chin fish which can bite hard enough to even cause cuts or wounds, as experienced by some customers.

It is always best to ensure that you only visit reputable spas which have excellent filteration systems and ultra-violet rays to kill whatever bacteria that might be present in the water. Otherwise you might find yourself picking up a nasty infection or skin disease from an irresponsible customer.
Tags: Beauty, fish spa, Health