From and to and , long, acrylics – often with nail art – as an expression of their style. Nail fashion is now a with gel manicures and acrylic nails among the most popular current trends. While manicures might feel like self-care, they can ruin healthy natural nails – and might even cause unexpected health problems in a small proportion of people who get them.
Author
Adam Taylor
Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, Lancaster University
For example, the nail glue used to attach acrylics to the natural nail is typically a mixture of alcohol, cyanoacrylate and photo-bonded methacrylate, with other ingredients , which is a known carcinogen.
The in the nail adhesives can cause and .
Nail glue burns are also . In some cases, nail glue spilled on clothing has caused injury by and damaging the skin beneath, which can then become infected.
Prolonged wearing of gels and acrylics can also lead to , where extra-skin – known as hyperkeratosis – growing under the nail resembles the red and crusty appearance of psoriasis. Many manicure enthusiasts with pseudo-psoriatic nails for allergy to methyl methacrylate.
In some cases the allergy can be so severe that it causes the . Others suffer from peripheral neuropathy – – sometimes permanently.
An unlikely cause of skin cancer?
There are many factors that contribute to cancer risk, including , , and ; however, there are cases of where UV nail lamp are reported to .
Gel nails are cured using special dryers that emit ultra-violet light in the form of UVA, which hardens the gel converting it to stiff polymers. Since most people have their nails done – and it takes approximately ten minutes to harden – that significantly increases UVA exposure. The back of the hands may be one of the most but it’s also unprotected by clothing – and one of the most common places people . If sunscreen is applied to hands then it’s often washed off regularly without being reapplied.
If you’re a fan of gels, reduce your risk of UV exposure by applying a high factor sunscreen 30 mins before the appointment and wear dark, fingerless gloves during the manicure.
Weak, brittle, dry nails
Removal of gels and acrylics often peels or shaves away fragments of the nail plate. Even the most painstaking removal can damage the , which can weaken the nail, cause it to become and the damage can make nails (a condition known as pseudoleukonychia). used for removal, including acetone for gel nails, can also dry out the nail and surrounding skin – and be absorbed into the blood stream.
The removal process for both gel and acrylic manicures can natural nails, which can be overfiled, causing stripes running across the ends of the nails, as well as changes and damage to the capillaries underneath.
Removing the nails can also cause traumatic , where the nail is pulled away from the bed underneath, giving a classic at the join between the nail and the underlying bed. This can open up the barrier that protects the internal body from the outside world, particularly at the edges on either side of the nail, when they become infected this is known as .
Leaving false nails on for too long can cause moisture to build up underneath the nail, creating an ideal environment for – the growth of fungus. Often, the changes to the appearance of the natural nail caused by a fungal infection are hidden by the acrylic, so infections can progress without being noticed.
Bacterial breeding ground
Even traditional nail varnish isn’t without risk. It can alter pulse oximeter readings, which measure how much oxygen your blood is carrying. Thankfully, most of the time these are not altered to a but gels, acrylics and varnish are because the spaces under nails and are a breeding ground for bacteria which can be passed between staff and patients.
If you enjoy manicures then it might be a better idea to forgo the gels and acrylics and concentrate on caring for your natural nails, leaving them visible so you can notice any changes to their appearance that might , such as fungal infections – and even .
Adam Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
