After your face, one will see your hands particularly nails while meeting. It’s a true fact that women are more concerned about their looks than men. They spend at-least an hour every day having a glimpse of their appearance.
For an alluring look, most people use acrylic nails glued on real nails. These fake nails are termed as safe and extensively used by celebrities. But, in few people it can trigger acrylic nail allergy. Because of the ingredients in fake nails, skin may get irritated and allergic symptoms can be seen.
Acrylic nails are made from different chemical substances. Initially, they used methyl methacrylate which got banned by FDA in 1974. Ethyl methacrylate monomer deemed safe by FDA, which is used now. But, in few people these chemical may not go well. They may react with the immune system and stimulate different symptoms.
Not just acrylic nails, other nail cosmetic products are packed with harmful chemicals. It’s not important that everyone who used the product will experience an allergy. Your immune system may not be able to cope with the ingredients. So you must check the ingredients twice before buying a cosmetic product.
Symptoms of Acrylic Nail Allergy
Things don’t happen at once. Don’t assume that with the first application you’ll know if you’re OK with the acrylic nails. Continuous exposure to chemical ingredients slowly increases chances of allergy. It may take days, months or years to see symptoms.
Nail technicians must pay attention to how they are applying nail polish and acrylic nails. Ingredients in the product used are proven to cause allergy, so you must pay close attention to it.
Symptoms range from mild to severe, as mentioned below.
- Skin rashes, swelling and pain may trigger when you come in contact with acrylic nails. You’ll see the infection around the nail bed.
- Red blisters and peeling of skin may be accompanied.
- It may take 10 days for you to see rashes or swelling around nails. If you ignore, then time interval decreases to 24 hours. Within few hours you’ll see severe allergic reaction when you use acrylic nails.
- Two adhesives used in making acrylic nails are methacrylate may cause contact dermatitis, while ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate will trigger onycholysis. In second case, your nail will get separated from nail bed. Further, yeast infection may proceed.
Nail salons alternatively use sculptured nails to make your nail long and enticing. These artificial nails are made by liquid methacrylate acid, benzoyl peroxide and hydroquinone which may cause contact dermatitis.
Repeated exposure to these chemicals may make your nails weak and result in nail loss. You can’t expect re-growth of nails soon.
Diagnosis
Upon visiting, allergist or doctor will examine your fingers and ask you few questions about the use of acrylic nails. A small patch will help to determine the extent of allergy. An irritant is applied over the skin and examined after a couple of days for reaction.
Important Points
- Avoid acrylic nails, but don’t try to remove by yourself. Visit nearest nail salon and get them removed, because improper removal will result in brittle and weak nails.
- You can apply over the counter corticosteroid skin cream to relieve from inflammation caused by acrylic nail allergy.
- Avoid eye or mouth contact with acrylic nails.
- Reach allergist at the earliest.