Can gel polish and acrylic nails cause allergic reactions and do the manicures damage your nails?

SKIN experts have warned that a chemical found in gel nail polishes and acrylic nails can cause an allergic reaction.

The skin irritations can affect any part of the body, not just the fingertips, and often occur when the procedure is done by untrained professionals. Let’s take a closer look.

Can gel polish and acrylic nails cause allergic reactions?

It is possible to suffer an allergic reaction to both gel and acrylic nails.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, methacrylate chemicals can cause a severe, itchy rash anywhere on the body, with around 2.4 per cent of users affected.

Allergic reactions occur when the chemicals come into contact with any part of the skin, causing a rash anywhere on the body, including the eyelids, face, neck and genital region.

Natural nails can also start to loosen and in very rare cases, it can result in breathing difficulties.

Do gel and acrylic manicures damage nails?

While the UV rays from the curing lamp (whether its UVA or LED) can cause long-term skin damage, a slick of sunscreen on the hands before using them generally is adequate protection.

However, the real damage comes from poor removal methods.

Softer gels are probably the lesser of two evils, as they can be soaked off with acetone instead of being filed off like harder gels popular in the 1980s.

However, soft soak gels are also likely to be damaging as keeping your fingers for long periods of time in acetone is really bad for skin and can leave nails and cuticles extremely dry and irritated.

All gel and acrylic manicures also cause nail thinning, either due to the acetone, filing, or the actual chemical composition of the gel itself.

Regular gel and acrylic users have all reported peeling, thinning, breaking and discoloured nails, as well as painful nail beds.

Gel nails can also lead to infections when the colour starts lifting away from the surface of the nail.
As peeling and lifting begin, water can seep into the nail, which can harbour bacteria and possibly cause fungus.

And if you choose to peel the gel off at home yourself, you risk taking with it multiple layers of your nail.