Doctor fish will eat off your dead skin. Photo: Catarina Domingues and courtesy of Jiuhua spa and resort

A little squeamishly, I dipped my feet into a warm tank of water, and waited for something to bite my feet off, literally. In a moment, hundreds of starving mini fish attacked my toes, desperate for a bite of dead skin, but my horror quickly dissipated into helpless guffaws. Those little fish tickle!

The fish used for my pesce-procedure are called "doctor fish," a breed that feeds on dead skin and is presumably able to clear and detoxify the skin's surface. Whether the doctor fish can actually cure any ailments or are even a safe treatment hasn't been proved; spa owners like to indicate skin health benefits related to the fishy feet-eaters, but doctors remain skeptical. As for me, I decided to take my chances and witness the fish feast when I submerged my entire body in the water, but I suspect that in the end the procedure's tickly value was more from the fun and novelty than any actual health benefits.

"It feels warm and comfortable," said a 35-year-old woman surnamed Ming while floating in the tank. "It's my first time too. The doctor suggested that the fish massage promotes blood circulation. He said it'd be a good exfoliation and detoxifying session that might help ease some scars that I have in my back."

Spas usually promote the service as a micro massage with relaxing effects that works wonders for eczema and psoriasis, since the fish are only attracted to dead skin, concentrating on the elbows, knees and feet, and leave the rest of the body unaffected.

"I do it every month," said a 50-year-old man surnamed Li, who wasn't following doctors' orders. "Why should I fear these minuscule fish? This makes me feel relaxed and rejuvenated."

According to the staff at the spa, the fish massage is a popular treat that is safe for both children and adults. They keep about one thousand little carps, each measuring 3 to 6 centimeters, in the 20 square meters tank. The doctor fish are imported from Turkey and live in hot water at around 40 degrees Celsius, even though at the spa they keep the water at 28 degrees Celsius and suggest that people schedule their massage around noon, when the tank is under the sun. "The fish survive off the daily visits of clients and don't require additional fish food or special maintenance besides the oxygen pump and thermostat to control the water temperature," said the PR person. But some spas in Beijing recently gave up the service due to the alleged difficulty of caring for the fish with frequent water tests and twice-daily water changes, a process further complicated by the dainty nature of the little nibbles.

So far the fish-feeding treatment has been more accepted for its aesthetic and relaxing effects rather than its curative features. Doctor fish were even banned in certain US states over sanitation concerns after experts suggested the fish can cause infections when people have exposed wounds, dermatitis or eczema.

"I tried it in Turkey in communal ponds for the first time and did it in Spain as well where the fish came in single bowls, but I don't really want to repeat it in Beijing because I don't trust that the fish and the water are kept up to good standards of hygiene," said Ana Rodriguez, 28, despite the fact that there are no reports of accidental fish biting, infections or disease in Asian countries, like Vietnam and Thailand where fish massage is popular, namely in countries. The treatment is also attracting curious visitors in the UK and Southern Europe, where new specialized spas opened in the past few months. If you take your chances with doctor fish in Beijing, you'll find the price is really advantageous. A half-hour fish pedicure is priced between 50 and 100 yuan in Beijing, while it ranges between 25 to 400 euros (approx. 220-350 yuan) in Europe.

I didn't feel like I was walking on clouds the day after my fishy premiere, but my feet felt slightly smoother and my belly muscles certainly appreciated the good laugh.

Jiuhua spa and resort

Tel: 6178-2288, Price: 58 yuan ($ 8.97) /hour

Shunjing spa hotel

Tel: 5827-1888, 5865-3888, Price: 59 yuan one session, unlimited time