Allergic to Acrylics? The Hidden Dangers of Acrylic Nails and Other Products

The substances that people are allergic to are called acrylics. These substances form the basis of acrylic nails, for example, but are also used in fillings at the dentist or when someone is fitted with an artificial knee. An allergy to the substance can therefore have quite far-reaching consequences.

That the allergy mainly emerges among acrylic nail enthusiasts according to an American study from two years ago. That study showed that 67 percent of acrylic allergies originated within the nail industry. In slightly more than half of those cases, it concerns the nail stylist herself, in the other cases it concerns the customer.

Breathing problems

These complaints can vary considerably. From itching to red fingers or cheeks and from eczema complaints to breathing problems. According to Thomas Rustemeyer, dermatologist at Amsterdam UMC, it is clear that there is a connection between acrylic nails and the allergy.

“But it does vary a lot from person to person how allergic someone is,” says Rustemeyer. “Some people can work or have nails done without any complaints. Others quickly get an allergic reaction if they even come into contact with the substance. Gel nails are better than acrylic, but you can also get complaints.”

According to the dermatologist, the allergy is permanent. “Once we have established that you are allergic to acrylics, we also know that it cannot be cured. Your immune system does not forget such a thing, if you come into contact with it again later, the allergy can flare up again and you will get complaints It is true that if you break contact with the substance, you can live without complaints.”

Burns

Someone who knows all about this is Charity Smit. As a nail stylist, she worked for years with all kinds of substances containing acrylics. And all that time without any problems. Until last summer. “It started after my pregnancy, probably because my hormones changed so much. It started with a blister and went from itching to irritation to blisters and burns. The doctor had no idea what it was.”

Smit was still putting acrylic nails on customers at the time of the complaints. During her vacation, the complaints diminished. Later, when she resumed her work, the complaints worsened. Her fingertips seemed to slowly let go and went numb. On a visit to a dermatologist it became clear: she is allergic to acrylates.

“Now what?” Smith asked himself. “I have my own salon, so just quitting was not really an option. At the beginning of this year I stopped using acrylics, I now use other products. However, I have had an allergic reaction again in the meantime. I am now trying to work more precisely and have studied it more. When I did the training as a nail stylist, this was not discussed anywhere. While it is in so many products.”

Annebelle Noteboom recognizes Charity’s story. As editor-in-chief of Nailed It magazine, she tries to provide nail stylists with more knowledge about the profession. Among other things, also about acrylic allergy.

According to Noteboom and dermatologist Rustemeyer, the complaints only increase over time. “This could have several causes”, Noteboom thinks. “Like that the nails are becoming more and more popular. But whether that is the real reason is difficult to say. The more often the substance comes into contact with the skin, the more you build up the allergy. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk. “

Risky profession

Nail stylist is not a recognized profession, because you don’t have to follow a special course for it. According to Noteboom, this is strange. “Sometimes nail stylists do not work carefully, for example, some work without gloves. There are many risks in the profession, it is special that stylists are not always well informed about this and that this is not a protected profession.”

There is also a major risk for customers in not allowing the artificial nail to harden properly, Noteboom knows. “If that is the case, then the allergenic substance actually comes into continuous contact with the skin via the nail. The exposure is then really very large. In addition, not every nail studio uses products that comply with the legislation. contain concentrations of allergenic products, you can imagine that the risk is also greater.”

No control at nail salons

In response to questions from RTL Nieuws, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says it does not check nail salons whether products that are used by customers comply with the legislation.

The NVWA does indicate that it checks whether manufacturers, importers and distributors offer products on the market that comply with all laws and regulations.