As with many things, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag.
Meet the Experts
Are Traditional Manicures Bad for You?
When you head to the salon for a manicure, there are a few risks involved.
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Let’s start with the ingredients.
A contact allergy can present with swelling, redness, or irritated skin around your nail.
Other times, problems can occur due to your nail technician’s technique.
Let’s not forget nail polish removal, which can also cause problems.
As a result, you may experience weak or brittle nails anddry, irritated skin, Stern says.
What About Gel Manicures?
Curious ifgel manicuresare bad for you?
Let’s dig in.
The Removal Process
As with traditional manicures, removing gel manicures can damage your nails.
Removing gel manicures involves soaking your fingernails in acetone for a prolonged period.
UV exposure can contribute to photoaging, wherein the skin ages prematurely.
There’s also a potential increased risk for skin cancer.
That said, more research is needed to better understandthe risks of UV exposure during gel manicures.
How About Acrylic Manicures?
Stern notes that most of the damage from acrylics shows up when they’re being removed.
“When acrylics are removed, it is key that the manufacturers instructions are followed,” she says.
“These products are available on the market and should also be available and offered at nail salons.”
Anddefinitelydon’t take a stab at peel off acrylics yourself.
Generally speaking, Zeichner says, “manicures are not damaging to your nails.
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