A woman is speaking out after she was diagnosed with stage 1 skin cancer caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection - following a manicure at a salon. Mum-of-three Grace Garcia, 50, developed squamous cell carcinoma around a deep cut on her cuticle made by a nail technician.
In November 2021, Grace visited a new 'fancy'-looking salon in California, US, but during the treatment, the manicurist slipped and injured her. Grace told Today: "She cut me, and the cut wasn't just a regular cuticle cut. She cut me deep, and that was one of the first times that happened to me."
Grace noticed the wound hadn't healed after three days, so she returned to the salon to complain - and they told her the technician no longer worked there.
In the months following, Grace observed the 'bump' was a darker colour than the rest of her skin and felt tender to touch.
She grew concerned and made numerous visits to doctors - one of which prescribed antibiotics that didn't help - before she was referred to a dermatologist.
It was then that Dr Teo Soleymani, a dermatologist at UCLA Health, diagnosed her with stage 1 skin cancer caused by an infection of high-risk HPV.
"She had squamous cell carcinoma. Hers was caused by high-risk HPV," Dr Soleymani told Fox 11.
According to the NHS, HPV is a common condition spread via skin-to-skin contact which can cause abnormal cell changes that turn into cancer.
Dr Soleymani believed Garcia's manicure may have triggered the development of the cancer, but noted that it was a rare case.
Grace was treated using Mohs surgery and now has regular skin cancer screenings with her dermatologist.
She is raising awareness to encourage other women to be persistent if something doesn't feel right with their health.
Dr Mike Hoaglin, medical director of drhouse.com, told the Mirror: "Squamous cell skin carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer and makes up 20 percent of all skin cancers in the UK.
"It develops in the cells that make up the middle and outer layers of the skin and can spread and cause complications if untreated.
"However, it must be noted that squamous cell skin carcinoma is usually not life-threatening."
Dr Hoaglin explained it's unlikely a trip to the nail salon will result in a skin cancer diagnosis, but it can happen.
"The chances of getting HPV-related, and squamous cell skin carcinoma from a nail salon are very slim, although UV treatments and tanning beds can increase the risk of cells mutating in the skin," he explained.
Do you have a real-life story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
