Why is it dangerous to do a gel manicure at home: this mistake can ruin your health for life

It turned out that during a home manicure it is very easy to make a mistake, the consequences of which can have a serious impact on the body.

Gel polishes have been around since the 80s and are only growing in popularity. It’s no surprise – who would turn down a manicure that lasts three weeks or more?

However, as we recently learned, if the gel is not used correctly, it can lead to serious problems. Studies have shown that 2.4% of people are allergic to acrylate, which is part of varnish.

“In general, acrylic, gel, or silk nails are the same thing,” says allergist and occupational physician Karine Pacheco of Colorado. All of these coatings, she says, work because of the acrylate they contain.

It may seem that the problem is not serious: after all, gel polish is neither water nor food. It is not so difficult to refuse it in case of an allergy, although, of course, few people are satisfied with ordinary varnish, which is much less durable.

The problem is that acrylates are not only found in gel polish. They are widely used in medicine – especially in dentistry, prosthetics and in diabetic devices. Therefore, an allergy to acrylates can lead to very deplorable consequences.

It’s simple – an allergy can develop if the gel comes into contact with the skin. In other words, when using regular polish, there is nothing wrong with a smudge on the little finger. But when the gel gets on the fingers every time during a manicure, it’s a completely different matter.

According to British dermatologist Deidra Buckley, each such incident increases the likelihood of developing an allergy. “That’s true for any allergen. If you’ve been exposed to it for many years, you’re more likely to become allergic,” she says.

The most common symptom of a gel polish allergy is contact dermatitis, in which the skin swells at the site of contact with the substance, begins to peel and itch, reddens and rashes.

In the case of a manicure, such manifestations usually occur on the fingers or wrists, less often on the face and neck. The latter cases are typical of situations when the UV lamp was chosen incorrectly, as a result, the varnish did not freeze to the end, and its particles passed from the brushes to other parts of the body.

Dermatologist Rajani Katta advises monitoring the use of gel polish in the salon. “Make sure the craftsmen apply it as gently as possible and that the coating doesn’t touch your skin,” she says.

At home, Buckley recommends proceeding with extreme caution. In her opinion, the best way to get a gel manicure is to go to a salon where specialists work who not only understand the potential dangers of the procedure, but have also been trained in handling gel polish and know all about it. its subtleties.

Read also: This sign suggests that you shouldn’t do manicures and pedicures with gel polish: save money and nerves!