Chemical Burn Following Pedicure: A Case Highlighting Risks of Cosmetic Nail Treatments

Pedicure treatments are widely utilized for cosmetic foot care and are generally perceived as safe; however, they may result in adverse events, including chemical burns, when products are misapplied or left in contact with the skin for prolonged periods. We report a case of a healthy adult female who developed a well-demarcated, painful, superficial partial-thickness chemical burn on the plantar forefoot following the use of a chemical callus remover during a pedicure. The patient experienced burning during the procedure, which was dismissed as normal, leading to a delay in recognizing the developing injury. On presentation to the dermatology clinic one week later, the lesion demonstrated erythema, erosion, and a white rim, with associated pain impairing ambulation. Management included wound cleansing, application of petrolatum, non-adherent dressings, and offloading, resulting in gradual re-epithelialization over four weeks with mild post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This case highlights the need for increased awareness of the potential complications associated with cosmetic pedicure procedures among both the public and healthcare professionals. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for chemical burns in patients presenting with foot lesions following pedicures and provide education on early signs of complications requiring medical evaluation. Further systematic reporting and investigation of pedicure-related adverse events are needed to better characterize risk factors and inform guidelines for safe cosmetic foot care practices, reducing preventable injuries and optimizing patient safety in the cosmetic care industry.