“HIV can be Spread in Beauty Salons,” AIDS Centre Tbilisi
The FINANCIAL — “Beauty salons without good hygiene measures are potential sources for the transmission of infectious diseases, including HIV,” said Maia Tsintsadze, doctor at the Epidemic Department of the AIDS Centre.
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Many of the beauty salons in Tbilisi do not meet the standards of hygiene that can prevent the transmission of diseases, doctors believe. The majority of people who are often visiting beauty centres say that price, not quality, is their priority while choosing a salon.
“We don’t have registered cases of infection at beauty centres. But it is possible, as at salons the continuity of the skin is broken. As well as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C may be transmitted in beauty centres too,” said Maia Tsintsadze, doctor at the Epidemic Department of the AIDS Centre.
“We can’t say exactly who has become diseased from beauty salons but they are really risky places,” said Maia Gutsashvili, Deputy of the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health. “Proper sterilization of instruments costs quite a lot and most salons can’t afford it. The prices at beauty centres which have good hygiene measures are expensive. The average citizen therefore can’t afford it.”
There are more than 2,000 beauty salons in Tbilisi . But centres with proper hygiene compliance are in the minority. Prices between salons differ significantly. Whereas at Natali and Green Salon a hairstyle costs 8 GEL, at “Beauty Salon” it costs 4 GEL and at Image – 5 GEL. A special occasion hairstyle at Natali costs 45-90 GEL, at “Beauty Salon” – 10-30 GEL.
“Unfortunately we don’t have any control over this. High standards must be mandatory for all salons. But now each beauty salon pays as much attention to the level of hygiene as they want. If it was up to my will, I’d close down many of them,” said Tamuna Sharashenidze, Organizer of the Beauty Salons’ Competition and Chief Editor of Magazine Saloni.
“I had a project about possible solutions to this problem. The first step has to be seminars for directors and hairdressers. Because they have variable knowledge and awareness of the risks of getting infected by a virus or skin disease by using wrongly or inadequately sterilized implements,” added Sharashenidze.
Failing to properly disinfect the tools could lead to the spread of infectious diseases. According to the statistics of Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre, by June 14, 2011 a total of 2,882 HIV/AIDS cases had been registered at the Centre, these include 2,123 men and 759 women. In 2010 the biggest number of infected people were registered – 455 individuals. This number has been growing since 1989, when the first case of HIV/AIDS was detected in Georgia.
All beauty salons claim that they have sterilizers and disinfect tools after each use. But according to specialists not all sterilizers can ensure safety.
“High hygiene measures are synonymous with our salon. We use imported sterilization liquid, which is used in surgical theatres at hospitals. Towels for pedicures are single use. For everything else we have a washing-machine,” said Lika Manjgaladze, owner of Green Salon, winner of the Beauty Salons’ Competition.
“Hygiene and cleanliness are our main priorities. For sterilization we use a special liquid imported from Spain. A modern sterilizer is used to hold nail implements immediately after each use. We are sure that our service is perfect and that’s why we suggest all kinds of service, including beard trimming for men,” said Sopo Nikoladze, Manager at beauty centre network Natali.
According to Maia Shakiashvili, owner of Beauty Salon in Tbilisi , they wash and disinfect all tools after each use by sterilizer.
“Our main clients are people living near our salon. They know that we have good hygiene and they are used to coming here. We have a sterilizer for manicure instruments, but we don’t have one for shaving. That’s why we don’t suggest it to our male clients,” said Shakiashvili.
Nata Kaulashvili, Manager of Image, a beauty salon in Sanzona, one of the suburbs of Tbilisi , says that they also don’t suggest beard shaving as they don’t have a proper sterilizer for the tools. In terms of everything else they are sure of their level of hygiene. After each use they disinfect implements in a sterilizer.
Representatives of these four beauty centres claim to have good hygiene measures, like others in Tbilisi . But Maia Gutsashvili, Deputy of the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health says that not all beauty salons have as good hygiene as is necessary.
“I’m not saying that they don’t disinfect their tools. But most of the beauty salons have a simple sterilizer which just isn’t adequate. Special antiseptic liquid is also necessary. Modern sterilizers and sterilizing liquid, those that can really ensure hygiene, cost too much. Maybe it isn’t good of me to say this, but if all the salons had to buy proper equipment, lots of them would go bankrupt. At the moment they just have elementary hygiene levels,” said Gutsashvili.
Green Salon is 10 years old. At the beginning they also had just a simple sterilizer. But now they have evolved and don’t use it any more.
“Of course having a good sterilization machine and liquid costs a lot. But we can’t have it otherwise. Every day I come here and control the situation myself. We had a case of a manicure specialist who didn’t sterilize the implements after each use. We fired her immediately,” said Lika Manjgaladze.
“Currently the best solution would be if everyone carried their own tools to beauty salons. That would ensure perfect safety. If people don’t do so then they have to be sure that implements are properly sterilized before use. But still I would advise everyone to do manicures and pedicures at home,” added Maia Gutsashvili, the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health.
