Why gel nails are bad

One thing that's pretty common among gel devotees is the picking process. When the color begins to lift, you may be tempted to remove it, almost like you would a scab. Once the peeling phase starts, it's hard not to pick at your polish. If you rip it off, you're probably taking some layers of your nail off with it. This kind of damage can take over six months to repair.

Adigun adds: "In one study, nail plate thickness was measured both before and after just one gel manicure and thinning was observed.

A recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that gel manicures may not be a safe option for people who are highly sensitive to UV light. Adigun said in the study. Adigun notes of her own research on the safety of gel manicures. LED lamps have become popular as much for their faster curing times as the belief that they're safer than UV lamps, but Dr. Adigun insists this is not the case.

This higher intensity of UVA irradiance means that it requires less time for these lamps to potentially harm the skin," she explains. When you still need your gel fix, Dr. Plus, the UVA light from the nail lamps is stronger than the usual exposure you get from the sun. Instead, Dr. Adigun recommends bringing along your own pair of YouVeeShield gloves to protect your hands against UVA radiation which also causes signs of premature aging like dark spots and wrinkles.

Adigun says. Ever wonder exactly how gel manicures stay so perfect for so long? The removal process for gel polish is more complex as well, requiring the nail to be soaked in acetone to properly dissolve the formula off of the nail.

While your manicure may stay firmly in place until you're ready to take it off, the removal process can be extremely harsh. According to Jenna and Dr. For nail polish fans, the range of services available has increased dramatically in the last decade. Alongside traditional polishes, fake nail options like acrylics now exist, and a new contender found in gel nail polish.

So what's the difference between nail polish and regular nail polish? Both are applied to the natural nail form — unlike acrylics — but there are sufficient differences to warrant informing yourself of all options before booking your next visit to the nail salon. Regular nail polish was always tried and true. But what about gel nails? Regular nail polish has been a cultural staple for as long as people have wanted to color their nails. Early use of natural materials such as beeswax and dyes eventually evolved into the classic nail polish known and loved by generations.

This polish, which can be found at any drugstore or beauty site, is easy to apply and quick to change with your mood. It puts a thin coat of colored lacquer over your natural nail and may last a few days before it chips with the option to add a base coat or top coat.

That being said, chipping nail polish simply means it's time to try a new color. With the ease of application, and simple dabbing of acetone to clean up any mistakes, a regular manicure is a fun complement to any look. In modern varnishes, a long list of complicated chemicals finds its way into a bottle. From the base to the colorants to the various ingredients that allow this classic shine, nail polish has a complicated recipe.

Moreover, regular nail lacquers take impressively long to dry. Nearly every nail polish user knows the drawbacks. Apply your polish. It's blessedly smooth. You let it dry for at least half an hour, then daintily pick up your phone to check any emails you may have missed.

You're immaculate at first, and nothing can stop you, but then you forget it's drying, and put your phone in your pocket. Even if you can wait long enough for your nails to dry perfectly, your new polish can chip within days. But if you were reminded of that amazing blue polish that matched your dress perfectly and then smudged an hour after application or chipped the day before your event, gel polish may be the savior you're looking for.

Gel nail polish has only been on the market since Still the gel manicure has quickly become a salon staple. Nevertheless, for all those who are unsure about trying new gel polishes, we collected a list of their benefits for you:.

Gel polish is thicker than ordinary nail polish. The primary feature distinguishing it from a classic manicure is a part of the curing application process since gel nail polish does not dry naturally. Curing refers to placing your nails under an LED or UV light to activate the chemical process that dries each coat of polish. Given that gel nail application has additional time for the polish to cure, you can leave your appointment or at-home application immediately with perfectly dried nails.

With a quick-drying, durable formula, gel polish hardly chips. One of the most extensive studies to date looking at the side effects of gel nail polish took place in a survey , involving 2, respondents. In the self-reported questionnaire, almost half reported side effects while applying the gel nail polish, and 1 in 5 while wearing it.

Less than 1 percent of folks reported a rash on their hands or body, eczema , or swollen lips. The study above also found that 3 in 4 people experienced side effects after removing their gel manicure , including:. But not all removal methods were as likely to cause probs. The study found that these side effects were far more likely to happen when participants performed and removed the manicure themselves.

One of the first things that usually hits you when you walk into a nail salon is the strong chemical smell. Not all of these substances are necessarily harmful, but many gel polishes can contain some potential nasties like:. The Environmental Protection Agency says that research associated it with certain cancers, and it can also cause contact dermatitis , especially if you have sensitive skin. In a small study , researchers tested the pee of 26 women who had recently painted their nails.

Compared to placebo manicures wearing gloves and fake nails, TPHP levels increased sharply in every participant in the active nail painting group. Remember, TPHP is an endocrine-disruptor, which means it messes with your hormones.

Over time, exposure to UV radiation can damage your skin, leading to premature wrinkles and age spots, and could even lead to skin cancer.

Since cold weather tends to make skin drier overall, proper cuticle hydration can make a big difference. Additionally, acetone can be extremely drying to the nail bed, causing nails to break or become brittle over time.

To combat nail dryness, experts suggest keeping cuticle oil close at hand no pun intended. Keeping my nails looking good, with or without polish, is definitely a priority. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.