Painting nails is a popular form of self-expression all over the world. But if you prefer French tips, emo black or long acrylics with eye-catching designs, you might be wondering: Can painting your nails be bad?
The answer is a bit complicated, but traditional nail polish, gel nails and acrylics are generally safe, Dr. Chris Adiguna dermatologist at Chapel Hill Dermatology and Laser Center in North Carolina, told Live Science.
That said, traditional nail polishes can contain chemicals that can irritate the skin around the nail bed and can cause allergic reactions in some people. For this reason, Adigun recommends using “three-free” nail polish, which lacks three chemicals that can often cause irritation: toluene, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde releasers, which release formaldehyde as they break down. Some nail polishes contain formaldehyde because it is a antimicrobial, preservative and nail strengthenerwhile toluene helps nail polish stay liquid in the bottle but dry quickly on your nails.
Unfortunately, however, nail polishes marketed as lacking these ingredients are not always labeled accurately. A 2019 study published in the journal Dermatitis examined 28 nail polishes advertised as formaldehyde-free and found that four still contained the chemical.
Related: Hair styling products contain chemicals that increase the risk of cancer, kidney damage and respiratory problems
of National Cancer Institute recognizes formaldehyde as a carcinogen, but studies have found a strong link to the disease only in people who breathe in large amounts of the chemical, such as industrial workers and embalmers. This type of exposure to formaldehyde and other chemicals may increase the risk of certain types of cancer in nail technicians, too, but research on this risk has showed conflicting results.
According to Harvard Health. There is a lack of research on how the chemical might affect people who often paint their nails.
Adigun recommends removing nail polish with an acetone-free nail polish remover, especially if you have brittle nails. “Acetone will actually strip the nails of the lipids [fat molecules] that hold the nail together and that the loss of lipids causes a brittle quality that makes the nail very brittle,” she said.
Moving on to gel nail polish, Adigun says the product is safe, but she has some concerns about it.
First, gel polishes harden with ultraviolet (UV) light, the same type of radiation protecting sunscreens. UV exposure in the nail salon could potentially increase the risk of skin cancer, but researchers not many have yet studied this potential danger.
“Gel nail products became really popular in the late 2000s, and the delay between exposure and malignant transformation [cancer formation] sometimes it’s 20 to 30 years,” Adigun said. “So we’ll have to wait and see.” Exposure to ultraviolet light can also cause other effects related to sun damage, such as skin discoloration and accelerated aging of the nails and the skin around them, she added.
To remove, gel nails also require painting or soaking with acetone, which can cause irritation and weakening of the nails. A 2012 case report in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology described five people whose nails thinned after using and removing gel polish just once.
Both gel polish and acrylics can contain chemicals called methacrylate monomers, which can cause irritation or allergic reactions for some. “I’ve seen pretty severe reactions to gel polishes, especially with patients who get them done chronically,” Adigun said. A common monomer related to these issues, it is called methyl methacrylate monomer.
With acrylics, one concern is that they can cause chronic inflammation and thinning of the skin under the nail, Adigun said.
“Sometimes people use them for such long periods of time that there can be permanent changes in the nails that we can’t necessarily reverse,” she said. A review article in Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology recommends not wearing acrylics for more than three consecutive months, based on the limited data available.
Adigun personally advises to take a break from acrylics equal to the time you have had your nails. For gel polish, she recommends waiting two to four weeks between polishes, depending on the condition of your nails.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice.
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