NAIL COSMETICS -HOW SAFE ARE THEY?
Nails protect the tip of the fingers and greatly help in the appreciation of fine touch and aids in picking up of small objects. Moreover they add to the beauty of the hands. People take great care to maintain the looks of nails. Nail cosmetics are used to enhance nails’ appearance & beauty and to disguise unsightly nail conditions.

What we do not realize is, there is always a health risk while using these products;

Nail polish : Also called nail lacquer, consists of enamel, top coats and base coats either separately or combined in one product. Nail polish contain 30% solids and 70% solvent ingredients.
The usual ingredients are

cellulose film formers
Resins
Plasticizers
Suspending agents
Solvents and diluents
Color substances.

Pearls or frosts are produced by bismuth oxychloride and titanium dioxide coated with mica and guanine. Nail polishes can produce allergic reactions which can develop in any part of the body. The commonest areas being eyelids, lower half of the face, neck and upper chest. Nail polish dermatitis can occur in user’s partner or other close contacts. The most common allergen is tosylamide formaldehyde resin.

Nail plate staining (yellow/orange) occurs on repeated applications and the dyes may penetrate deeply. Nails may become friable if the lacquer is left on the nails for many weeks.

Nail polish removers : Usually made up of various solvents such as acetone. They may cause excessive dryness of the nail plate.

Cuticle removers : 0.4% sodium or potassium hydroxide is used as lotions or gels as cuticle removers. 1-5% lactic acid cream is also used.

Nail hardeners : Nails are thickened with tissue fixatives such as formaldehyde but they are notorious to produce pain, bleeding under the nails, bluish discoloration of nails and are no longer preferred.

Preformed plastic nails : These are prosthetic nails which can be fixed to the nails with cyanoacrylate adhesives. It can be trimmed to fit the fingertip. If they are kept for 3-4 days it can cause nail damage and discoloration. Sometimes allergic reactions can also occur at distant places.
Other nail cosmetic products include nail cream, nail whitener, nail mending kits, silicone rubber nail prosthesis, buffing creams etc. Always consult a dermatologist in case of any allergies or nail changes to get the proper advice and treatment.