While gel polish is oftentimes favored over the regular nail polish because of its durability, it has also some down sides that beauty junkies need to know before visiting the nail salon.
Gel manicures have been gaining popularity more than ever, and that's thanks to the out-of-this-world designs that have been created, as well as how it is far long lasting than the ordinary nail polish. However, as much as it sounds heavenly, it also poses some risks that people may not even be aware about.
UV Exposure
Already established, the biggest problem with gel manicures arises from the use of UV lamps. This type of polish, though it doesn't entail rigorous upkeep, needs to be "cured" under UV lamps. By cure, this means to harden the polish.
Unlike ordinary nail polish that just needs time to dry, gel polish requires UV lamps to dry the nail and for it to stick to the nails. While these lamps do not emit UVB rays, which are very harmful for the skin, these do give off UVA rays, which in the long run can damage DNA and collagen, which could give one higher risk of cancer and would prompt premature aging.
The American Academy of Dermatology also pointed out that the short time under the lamps is far more harmful than the sun's UV rays. Of course, many would often have their gel manicures changed, especially if the nails would start growing.
"The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief, but it's intense. Over time, this intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage," dermatologist Chris Adigun said.
Weak Nails
Second, manicures, in general, leave the nails weak and brittle. Jenna Hipp, a manicurist to the celebrities like Selena Gomez and Lea Michele, said that she had customers that complained of breaking and thin nails. This is especially true for those who usually and constantly get their nails done, whether with gel or regular nail polish.
Adigun, meanwhile, said it can cause dehydration. The solution? Always let the nails breathe, meaning sessions should not come so often just so the nails could take its rest and time to repair.
Dangerous Formula
Third, some gel polish formula actually has dangerous elements. Hipp said customers must first check for the label of the product and see if the "Toxic Trio," consist of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene, are present. Moreover, it is important to look for butylated hydroxyanisol, a known "human carcinogen."
Next, there are some people who intentionally chip off their nails when they notice that the color is already half the nails. For some, the perfect time for this is during showers. However, forcefully removing gel polish will not just hurt, it could also be extremely dangerous for the nails.
Because gel polish is durable, it doesn't come off easily. This means that one needs to take a visit to the nail salon. For those lazy beauty junkies, they opt for home DIYs found on the internet which entails soaking the nails on acetone before wrapping with foil. Long exposure to acetone is very drying and will cause the nails to become brittle.