Two clients were infected with genital herpes after having their nails done at an Oregon salon years apart, according to an explosive new lawsuit.
A 31-year-old woman claims she contracted the virus during an acrylic manicure appointment last year at PDX Nails in Portland, The Oregonian reported, citing court documents.
The $2.5 million lawsuit, filed by the woman Monday, alleges she is the second customer in two years to contract genital herpes at the salon.
“It’s pretty embarrassing,” the woman, identified in the complaint as JS, told the local publication. “I just went to get my nails done.”
During the appointment, the nail technician did not wear gloves while working on JS’s nails and giving him a hand massage with lotion or oil, according to the suit.
A day after his appointment, JS felt “an unusual burning and tingling sensation” on the side of his hand and little finger.
The next day, a fluid-filled, itchy blister formed, which persisted for days, according to court documents.
JS said she started showing people her hand, asking them if they knew what could be happening.
“They asked me, ‘Where did you do your nails?’ “, JS told the Oregon-based media outlet.
“I was like, ‘PDX Nails down on 122nd.’ And they said, “No way. This place was just the subject of a lawsuit.
A month before JS went to PDX Nails, the salon had just settled a lawsuit with another client who contracted the infection in 2023.
The other client, identified only as SR in court documents, filed a $1.75 million lawsuit against the salon in 2024 and settled in July of the following year for an undisclosed amount, the publication reported.
JS said in the suit that she has since had new outbreaks despite taking antiviral medications to reduce flare-ups of the incurable disease.
The suit also alleges that JS was not exposed to the infection before getting her nails done.
In addition to the salon, the suit named the Oregon Health Authority and the Health Licensing Bureau in the suit, citing “incompetence.”
The lawsuit alleges that state officials failed to strip the salon of its cosmetology license or take other steps that could have prevented JS from being exposed to the virus after the first customer contracted it.
PDX Nails has two locations in Portland, one of which was fined $500 in 2021 by the state’s Bureau of Health Licensing and Cosmetology Board for “failing to disinfect used tools” that “come into direct contact (with) a customer,” the outlet reported.
An inspector also found “used drill bits at the work station” and was fined an additional $500 for failing to properly clean foot spa equipment.
However, the salon has not faced any violations or fines from the state since 2021, state officials confirmed to The Oregonian.
As a mother, JS says she lives in fear of passing the virus to someone through touch and wears gloves when changing her baby’s diaper.
“I’m afraid of ruining someone else’s life because of this,” she told the local media outlet.
PDX Nails declined to comment when contacted by The Post and the Oregon Health Authority did not immediately respond.
Gn Health
