Thank you for helping correct the record, by considering writing a comment on the following news media websites!
We invite you to write a comment on these websites which have publicly condemned Gara rufa fish on the basis of this report, despite the lack of any evidence. A list of sites appears below. Here is an example of an appropriate comment.
Please do not spread the rumor that the Doctor Fish caused this woman’s toe nail loss. We are truly sympathetic to the woman who lost her toe nails after visiting the fish spa. Although we do not know for sure whether the fish spa was the cause of this problem, fish spas have been associated with several problems like bleeding and infections, making this news report of nail loss quite likely to be the result of the fish spa. HOWEVER, we take issue with the accusation that the Doctor Fish, Garra rufa, was to blame, without proof that the fish was identified. Garra rufa has been reported to provide medicinal and health benefits, and is used by many as part of fish therapy (ichthyotherapy). But most fish spas in Asia and North America use a less expensive and more plentiful fish, such as the Chin Chin fish (Tilapia). Tilapia are very different from Garra rufa: they are more aggressive and they have teeth, which is what often causes the trauma; Garra rufa have no teeth. The author of this recent medical report suggested that Garra rufa was to blame, but provided no evidence that the fish was ever identified, so most likely the fish was not Garra rufa. Identification is essential in order to know which fish actually might be to blame.
Always be careful to read the post before leaving your comment, to ensure that your comment is appropriate for the site and for the post.
When you are finished leaving your comment (or as an alternative to leaving a website comment), please consider submitting a letter to the Editor of the original scientific paper, whose negligence led to the spread of this unsubstantiated (or maybe even erroneous) claim. You will find a draft letter and a simple submission form on this page.
Websites discussing the recent JAMA-Dermatology article, inappropriately condemming Garra rufa as the cause of nail loss in a woman who visited a fish spa:
- NBC4 – Report: Woman’s toenails fell off due to a fish pedicure
- Gizmodo – A Woman Lost Her Toenails After a Fish Pedicure
- IFL Science – A Fish Pedicure May Have Made This Woman’s Toenails Fall Off
- VT – Woman loses her toenails after getting a popular ‘fish pedicure’
- UPI – ‘Fish pedicure’ caused one woman’s toenails to stop growing
- Syracuse – Report: Woman gets fish pedicure which causes her toenails to fall out
- NextShark – Woman Loses a Toenail After Fish Pedicure at Spa
- BuzzFeed News – A Woman’s Toenails Fell Off After Getting A Fish Pedicure
- Yahoo – A Woman’s Toenails Fell Off After a Fish Pedicure
- FN (FootWearNews) – Fish Pedicure Causes Woman’s Toenails to Fall Off
- Mamamia – Prepare to seriously think twice about having a fish pedicure on your next holiday.
- Global News – Fish pedicure causes woman’s toenails to peel off, medical expert warns of ‘serious infections’
- Medical Daily – What Is Fish Pedicure? Woman Loses Toenails After Spa Treatment
- Peggy991 – Fish pedicure causes woman’s toenails to peel off, medical expert warns of ‘serious infections’
Please consider submitting a letter to the Editor of the original scientific paper, whose negligence led to the spread of this unsubstantiated (or maybe even erroneous) claim. You will find a draft letter and a simple submission form on this page.