Woman contracted staph infection after getting false eyelashes

UPDATE: THE Ringwood beauty parlour at the centre of a staph infection claim has been given a week to clean up its act.

UPDATE: THE Ringwood beauty parlour at the centre of a staph infection claim has been given a week to clean up its act.

Kaity Hull, 21, visited the parlour on March 4 for a false set of eyelashes and the next day noticed a small rash developing on her face, which was later diagnosed as a staph infection.

Maroondah mayor Tony Dib this afternoon said environmental health officers have inspected the site and issued a Prohibition Notice.

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“The business has been prevented from undertaking their eyelash application process until council officers are satisfied that infection control procedures are in place,” Cr Dib said.

“Council has also issued an improvement notice that sets out all items that must meet compliance within the next seven days to ensure the premises is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition,” he said.

“Council will continue to monitor and work with the business to ensure compliance is met for the prohibition and improvement notices that were issued.”

Ms Hull said she had been left traumatised by her experience.

Kaity Hull developed an infection to her face after getting eyelash extensions. Picture: David Crosling

“I didn’t really think anything of it at first but three hours later I noticed the rash had spread all over my face,” Ms Hull said.

“I had to take off my makeup because my face was burning and it felt like it was on fire,” she said.

“When I woke up the next morning I noticed tiny white boils across my face and went to the doctor, who diagnosed me with staphylococcus.”

Ms Hull said her mother then phoned the owner of the business who said it was an allergic reaction and that she needed to take the eyelashes off.

“I didn’t want her to remove the eyelashes because I was already traumatised from the experience,” she said.

“We sent her photos of my face and she said it was only teenage acne.”

Ms Hull said she was forced to postpone her holiday to Bali and took several days off work after contracting the infection.

The rash on Kaity Hull’s face after the eyelash extensions.

“I’m just so distraught by the whole experience and she hasn’t even had the decency to offer me an apology,” she said.

She has, however, been given a refund by the business.

Ms Hull said she was pleased with Maroondah Council’s decision today,

“I’m so happy that the council has quickly acted on this issue.

“I hope the council notices stop this from happening again as I wouldn’t wish this upon anyone,” she said.

Dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr Daniel Lanzer said this was one of the worst cases of staph he had seen in 25 years of practice.

“Staphylococcus is an easy bacterium to grow but also easy enough to prevent in a beauty salon,” Dr Lanzer said.

“I recommend standard sterility in any salon that perforates the skin. Anything sharp that could penetrate the skin needs to be replaced and everything else requires cleaning and sterilisation,” he said.

The business has received more than 40 one-star reviews on its Facebook page with customers complaining about their “terrible” experiences and hygiene issues.

Samantha Gray from Mitcham, who visited the beauty parlour in November 2016, told the Leader it was the worst nail experience she had ever had.

Some of the comments on the Ringwood beauty parlour's Facebook page. Picture: Facebook

“The acetone was boiling when they asked me to soak my nails off. I had burns up and down my fingers,” Ms Gray said.

“The woman doing my nails was reckless with the drill. I had chunks of skin cut out around my nails. Most of my fingers bled throughout the process,” she said.

Catherine Bedford from Seville, who visited the salon six months ago to get a full set of nails done, said she was horrified by their hygiene practices.

“There were piles of nails all over the floor — it was so disgusting. It looked like a third world country in there,” Ms Bedford said.

When Maroondah Leader contacted the owner of the beauty parlour for comment she hung up and disconnected the phone.

Maroondah Council has been approached for comment.