Smyrna Customer Describes Toe Infection After Gel Pedicure in Google Review

A public Google review for Nails Avenue, located at 111 Brackin Ct in Smyrna, is circulating among local readers after describing one customer's account of a toe infection following a gel pedicure.

The reviewer, Breana Akins, wrote that she had been a regular client for about a year before stopping her visits in March. She said a doctor diagnosed the issue as paronychia, an infection of the skin around the nail. According to the review, symptoms did not appear right away — the toe reportedly turned red and sore the day after a gel pedicure, then worsened over roughly four weeks until it became visibly infected and, she wrote, later spread to another toe.

"I always get a pedicure and gel toes ... it eventually got worse over time ... my toe had puss and it was infected and it later spread to my other toe due to fungus under the gel." — Breana Akins, Google review

This account reflects a single customer's experience as posted publicly on Google and has not been independently verified by Tennessee Tribune. Nails Avenue has not issued a public statement addressing the review as of this writing.

Dermatologists note that paronychia and fungal nail infections are a recognized risk of gel manicures and pedicures in general, not unique to any single salon. Common contributing factors include nicked cuticles, improperly sterilized tools, or moisture trapped under gel polish. Health guidance for clients typically includes:

• Confirming tools are sterilized between clients rather than just wiped down
• Avoiding aggressive cuticle trimming when possible
• Watching for redness, swelling, or discharge in the days following a service
• Seeking prompt medical care if symptoms appear

Nails Avenue is located at 111 Brackin Ct, Smyrna, TN 37167, and can be reached at (615) 998-5232. Readers with concerns about a specific service are encouraged to contact the business directly or check inspection records with the Tennessee Department of Health's cosmetology licensing board.