By Prevention Disinfectants
When clients come in for their well-deserved treatment, the last thing they want to think about is germs, which is why infection prevention should be top of mind for skin care professionals. Cleaning and disinfection play a critical role in preventing infections during skin care treatment, as equipment and surfaces used during the service may be harboring germs, also known as pathogens, that can cause illness in clients or staff. By following five simple tips, you can feel confident that you are doing your part to keep your facility germ-free and safe.
Tip #1: Use the Right Disinfectant
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment are important not only to keep clients and staff healthy, but also to be in compliance with state board requirements. State boards require that spas have measures in place to prevent infections, which includes ensuring that workstations and equipment are disinfected between clients, using an EPA-registered disinfectant. While household disinfectants may be sufficient for home use, skin care professionals should ensure that they are using a hospital-grade disinfectant designed for professional spa environments. Prevention Disinfectants are effective against viruses, bacteria and fungi in only 1 minute and can be used on surfaces and skin care equipment.
Tip #2: Put Your Safety First
When some people think about disinfectants, an image of harsh chemicals might come to mind. While disinfectants used to rely on harsh chemicals in order to be effective against pathogens, modern disinfectants such as Prevention are tough on germs but gentle on people, your surfaces, equipment and the planet. Prevention is non-irritating to eyes, non-corrosive to skin and is not associated with any health hazards. While no personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to use Prevention safely, gloves are recommended as a precaution to protect against cross-contamination when cleaning and disinfecting.
Environmental footprint is important for professionals in the beauty and wellness market, and many spa owners are on the lookout for opportunities to reduce their environmental footprint, and their choice of disinfectant has a role to play in this effort. In addition to looking for products with biodegradable ingredients, skin care professionals can choose a disinfectant that is available in more sustainable packaging options to reduce plastic waste. Prevention is available in an eco-friendly Refill Wipes format, which contains 90% less plastic compared to a regular wipe canister, while also offering easy storage and cost savings. A win for the environment as well as your business!
Tip #3: Don’t Spray and Wipe
Contrary to popular belief, disinfectants don’t kill pathogens on a surface as soon as they are applied; in fact, the disinfectant solution needs to stay wet on the surface for a certain length of time in order to be fully effective. This is known as the disinfectant’s contact time, and can be found on the product label. As such, spraying disinfectant onto a surface and immediately wiping it dry is a surefire way to prevent effective disinfection. Choosing a product such as Prevention with a rapid 1-minute contact time against viruses, bacteria and fungi is important for two reasons. The first is the most obvious: being able to disinfect quickly means less waiting in between appointments, leaving more time to focus on your clients. Another equally important reason is that disinfectants with long contact times often evaporate before the contact time has been reached, meaning that multiple applications will be required for confidence that the surface is being disinfected properly (e.g. high alcohol products). With Prevention, you can feel confident that pathogens will be eliminated quickly with a single application.
Tip #4: Have Sanitation Protocols
As a skin care professionals, you likely perform a variety of different treatments on any given day. Just as you would tailor your treatment to meet the needs of each client, the same goes for disinfecting surfaces and equipment throughout your facility. Not all surfaces are the same when it comes to disinfection, and there is no “one size fits all” when developing cleaning and disinfection protocols. For instance, workstations and high-touch surfaces may be sprayed or wiped with disinfectant, whereas certain skin care tools may be pre-cleaned and then immersed into the disinfectant solution, depending on state board requirements. Visit PreventionDisinfectants.com for downloadable protocols for various spa and salon applications.
Tip #5: Educate & Communicate
Infection prevention can be simple, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that cleaning and disinfection best practices are common knowledge. Taking the time to learn, educate and train your staff on the proper protocols for each surface will go a long way in ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that nothing gets missed. You can sign up for a complimentary online certification, offered by Prevention, that has helped thousands of facilities take their sanitation protocols to the next level.
It isn’t only staff that should be made aware of your commitment to infection prevention. Clients are more aware than ever before of the dangers posed by pathogens and have high expectations that their spa is invested in keeping them safe. By printing and displaying your infection prevention certificate along with other communication tools such as tent cards, window decals, and door hangers, you’re letting your clients know that their health comes first.
Clients come to you in search of a relaxing, worry-free experience. With these five infection prevention tips in mind, you can provide yourself and your clients with the comfort of knowing that you’re maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
