BEING eaten alive by creatures from the deep may not sound relaxing - but this week saw the opening of the first health spa in Britain to use LIVE FISH in a stress-busting treatment.
Visitors to the Aqua Sheko spa have their toes nibbled by the tiny Garra Rufa
fish, a type of carp better known as "Dr Fish".
It eats away dry skin, which not only leaves the feet soft and smooth but also
reduces stress levels, claim the spa owners.
Brought over from Asia, where the treatment is enormously popular, the fish
are also said to be good at treating skin conditions such as eczema.
Spa founder Karen Ho said: "Fish therapy is an enjoyable and relaxing way to
remove a build-up of dead skin. The results are instant."
During each 45-minute treatment, which costs £35, clients dangle their feet in
a warm tank containing up to 200 fish. The technique originated in the
Middle East.
But experts have greeted the new spa with mixed reactions.
Dr Sunil Chopra, a skin expert from The London Dermatology Centre, said:
"These fish will certainly help relieve scaly, dry skin.
"The actual effect may not be much more than a pumice stone - but a key factor
of this treatment is that it is meant to be relaxing and reducing stress
levels can improve the condition of your skin."
He warns against using the treatment for severe disorders such as psoriasis
because it may make the condition worse.
