Nail experts and spa products can have both positive and negative effects on nail health. The following information provides details on ingredients, materials, and safety measures related to nail products and services.
Negative Effects:
- Chemical Hazards: Nail products used in salons may contain chemicals that can affect worker health. Using these products can expose nail salon workers to chemicals.
- Health Problems: A growing body of medical research shows a link between the chemicals that make nail and beauty products useful and serious health problems. The ingredients that make them chip-resistant and pliable, quick to dry and brightly colored, for example, have been linked to various health problems. Manicurists who handle the chemicals and breathe their fumes for hours on end, day after day, are at a higher risk of health problems.
- Overexposure to Ingredients: Overexposure to some of the ingredients in nail products can induce symptoms such as burning throat or lungs, labored breathing, or shortness of breath. Of the 20 common nail product ingredients listed as causing health problems in a safety brochure put out by the Environmental Protection Agency, 17 are hazardous to the respiratory tract.
Positive Effects:
- Nail Health: Some nail products contain ingredients that can be hydrating for the nails, while others strengthen them. For example, base coats that contain vitamin E and castor oil can be hydrating for the nails, while those that contain keratin and calcium strengthen them.
- Professional Formulation: Professional nail care products are typically formulated to minimize exposure and the potential for adverse health effects.
- Regulation: Nail products for both home and salon use are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are generally regulated as cosmetics, and the labels of all cosmetics, whether marketed to consumers or salons, must include a warning statement whenever necessary or appropriate to prevent a health hazard that may occur with the use of the product.
It is important to use nail products safely, following labeled directions and paying attention to any warning statements. Good ventilation is also essential when using nail products. If you have a reaction to a nail product, it is important to report it to the FDA.
