Doctor Fish

Has anyone heard of the new exfoliating spa treatment that is currently all the rage in Japan, China, Turkey and Europe? It has nothing to do with salt scrubs or even non abrasive AHA/BHA
exfoliation. It does have everything to do with tiny fish eating the dead skin off your body.

Do I hear screams of disgust? Oh, wait they're coming from me.

Back in 1917, a shepherd dipped his wounded leg into the hot springs in the hills of central Turkey, in a town called Kangal. These little fish, which are a little under 4 inches, or 9.7 cm, long, nibbled off the dead flesh from the wound. “Miraculously” his wound healed nicely.



Doctor fish, appropriately named for the fact that they consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving behind a fresh healthy new layer of skin to grow. What you do is immerse parts or your entire body into a warm spa pool that is host to thousands of tiny fish who immediately zoom in on the dried, flaky parts of your body.



The experience is known to be quite ticklish. However, the effects are said to be amazing as you emerge from the pool with smooth and glowing skin.

Commonly used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis. Apparently, the fish exude an enzyme called dithranol (anthralin) which prevents fast developments of cells from the skin, therefore preventing psoriasis. You'd think they'd do the opposite wouldn't you? So more dead skin would form, more food?

Anyway, the effects are temporary for most and they have to revisit the spa approximately every couple of weeks. So no worries there for the fishies. The food will be coming back.

These little fish are dying to feast on the diseased parts of your skin. Trackback to the article can be found here. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

While you must excuse me, I feel like I need a shower.