What is an Allergy?
An allergy is your immune system’s reaction to an allergen, a substance – such as food, pollen, or dandruff from your pet – that generally poses no danger to most people. When your immune system encounters an allergen, it reacts like an attacking pathogen and wages a response. Inflammation or sneezing might be the result. But allergies are common, sometimes mild and sometimes severe. The most severe is called anaphylaxis – an instant, sometimes deadly, response to a dangerous but very rarely encountered stimulus [1, 2].
What are the Causes of Allergies?
The exact mechanism of allergies is still unclear, but they seem genetic. If you have a close family with an allergy, you are more prone to have an allergy. However, only a general susceptibility to allergic reactions is inherited, not specific allergies [1, 3].
Allergies can arise in response to numerous substances. Common allergens are the hair or saliva of dogs, cats, or other animals.
Certain drugs/foods and environmental factors can also trigger allergies, such as:
- Penicillin
- Aspirin
- Nuts
- Shellfish
- Several other foods
- Pollen
- Mould
- Dust mites
- Bees or Wasps
- Substances found in certain plants [1, 2, 3].
It is also recognised that sensitisation rarely stops with just one agent. Indeed, allergic individuals are often allergic to more than one thing [2]. Again, environmental and lifestyle changes have long been recognised as potentially contributing factors to the rising prevalence of allergies worldwide [4].
Risk Factors of Using Gel Polish
Long-lasting and shiny, gel nail polish is famous for creating a durable coating on nails and skin. Yet the effects of this beauty treatment can be far from harmless; a study of 88 patients ultimately led to an allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) diagnosis in 70.5% of cases [5]. The most common allergens were 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
Another cause of complications from gel polish – mechanical nail trauma – was found in 26.1% of cases, such as Pterygium inversum unguis (PIU), where the hyponychium adheres to the ventral part of the nail plate, which developed in 17 women after between two and five years of using nail polish [6].
UV-induced skin lesions, one of the less common but more severe risks, have been reported in 3 cases [5]. UV lamps used to cure gel polish may increase the risk of cutaneous injury and malignancies [7].
Many of these customers reported side effects when applying (48.3%), wearing (20%), and, especially, after removing the gel nail polish (more than 75%) [8]. The removal process might result in the thinning of the nail plate, as indicated by a dozen clinical measurements that show the nail plate thickness decreases after applying gel polish [9].
Lastly, gel polish can also increase the bacterial burden on nails, which may only partially be removed by hand hygiene practices [10].
What are the Symptoms of Developing an Allergy to Gel Nail Polish?
Allergic reactions to gel nail polish can range from mild to severe, depending on how sensitive you are to the allergens in the nail polish.
A common symptom is allergic contact dermatitis, which results in itching, often in the absence of a rash or other irritation—particularly around the eyes and throat [11]. The skin may be scaly or dry, and blisters that become crusty and ooze pus may form [11].
Another is a rash of reddish, itchy welts known as hives [11]. Itchy, reddish patches of skin are another symptom of gel nail polish allergy.
In some individuals, the skin might become extremely sensitive and feel on fire without any visible irritation or lesions [11]. Hypersensitivity to sunlight can manifest [11].
In other cases, the allergy can lead to mechanical nail damage, such as subungual hyperkeratosis (an accumulation of thickened skin underneath the nail) and onycholysis (separation of the nail from its fleshy bed) [12].
A more severe consequence is mouth, lips, or tongue swelling, which can make breathing, eating, or talking complex [11]. There are some sporadic reports of anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction) [11].
How Can You Avoid an Allergy To Gel Nail Polish?
Avoiding an allergy to gel nail polish involves understanding the potential allergens in the product and taking steps to minimize exposure.
The most prominent allergen in gel nail polish is tosylamide-formaldehyde resin, which elicits contact dermatitis [13]; other allergens include acrylate monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and ethyl cyanoacrylate [14].
Choose Hypoallergenic Products
It can help to use hypoallergenic nail polish brands, but hypoallergenic products can also contain materials that might induce allergic reactions [13]. Make sure to check the contents of your products and perform a patch test to determine the allergen.
Professional Application
The frequency of alterations is also associated with the procedure applied. It was found that if a professional applied the procedure, the therapeutic risk was lower [8]. Hence, if your gels are used by a beautician, your chances of an allergic reaction are lower.
Proper Removal
Correct removal of gel nail polish is also necessary to avoid allergy, with more than 75% of respondents experiencing side effects with polish removal [8]. Therefore, it's recommended to follow proper removal techniques, such as soaking the nails in acetone for 10 to 15 minutes, rather than peeling off the polish, which can cause damage [15].
Protection from UV Light
Many gel manicures require curing with UV light, which damages skin and may further increase the risk of skin cancer [7]. To prevent direct UV exposure and minimize risk to your skin when curing your gel manicures, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen or wear nitrile exam gloves [7].
Education and Awareness
Finally, education and awareness about the potential side effects of gel nail polish are crucial. Understanding the processes and associated complications can facilitate appropriate treatment and safe use [5].