Woman Sues Nail Salon Over Infection Claims
A 23-year-old woman is taking legal action against a Portland nail salon, alleging that a manicure left her with a virus linked to a sexually transmitted infection.
The unnamed woman claims she went to PDX Nails for an acrylic manicure on June 1, 2023. What she expected to be a routine beauty treatment, usually costing between $58 to $70, took a serious turn when she believes she contracted an STI—specifically the herpes virus.
Shortly after her appointment, she noticed her right index finger swelling and began to feel unwell.
By the fourth day post-manicure, painful blisters had formed, prompting her to visit an urgent care clinic. Doctors examined her fingers, took swabs of the sores, and sent samples for testing.
The results showed she had developed a herpetic whitlow infection—a finger infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, which affects around three in every 100,000 people in the U.S. annually.
Herpes viruses come in multiple strains: HSV-1, which typically causes oral herpes and cold sores, and HSV-2, linked to genital herpes. It’s unclear which strain the woman contracted.
This infection is often spread through contact with infected saliva or genital fluids. However, it can also be transmitted via contaminated objects like shared nail tools.
While there’s no cure, treatments are generally focused on alleviating symptoms and preventing further spreading. The woman’s complaint further claims that the nail technician failed to wear gloves during the manicure and kept tools in an Altoids tin.
She insists that she had not experienced any issues with her health prior to the visit to the salon.
A herpetic whitlow infection typically arises from HSV-1 or HSV-2. It can cause painful blisters and may lead to symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Initially, the condition brings about pain and tingling in the finger, and blisters soon develop. The infection usually heals itself but often requires antiviral medications for quicker recovery.
However, the woman states that her infection has persisted for years, with multiple flare-ups causing her distress and forcing her to bandage her fingers frequently to prevent transmission.
She mentioned to a local outlet, “The flare-ups can be super, super painful. It’s always on my mind.” She also expressed embarrassment over explaining her condition when asked about her fingers.
The lawsuit originally sought $1.75 million from the salon for negligence and unlawful practices. However, a confidential settlement has since been reached between the woman and the salon. Details of the settlement remain undisclosed, and inquiries for comment from PDX Nails are pending.
