Acrylic Nails Causing Skin Arond my Fingers to Dry and Peel

Info from a Study: Sensitization to Acrylates Caused by Artificial Acrylic Nails:Review of 15 CasesE. Roche, J. de la Cuadra, and V. AlegreServicio de Dermatología, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain Abstract. Background. Allergic contact dermatitis due to acrylates present in the workplace is a disease frequently reported among dentists, printers, and fiberglass workers. Recently, the number of cases of contact allergic dermatitis among beauticians specialized in sculpting artificial nails has increased.Objective.Our objective was to study the clinical characteristics and allergens implicated in allergic contact dermatitisdue to acrylates in beauticians and users of sculpted nails.Material and methods. This was an observational, retrospective study of patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis due to acrylates used in sculpting artificial nails over the last 26 years in the Hospital General Universitario,Valencia, Spain.Results. In total, 15 patients were diagnosed: 14 beauticians and 1 client. Most cases were diagnosed in the past2 years. All were women, their mean age was 32.2 years, and 26.7 % had a personal or family history of atopy. The sensitization time varied between 1 month and 15 years. The most frequently affected areas were the fleshy partsof the fingers and hands. Three patients —2 beauticians and 1 client— presented allergic asthma due to acrylates.All patients underwent patch testing with a standard battery of allergens and a battery of acrylates. ***The most frequent allergens were ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (13/15, 86.7 %), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (13/15, 86.7 %),triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (7/15, 46.7%), 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (5/15, 33.3%), and methyl methacrylate(5/15, 33.3 %).Conclusions.Acrylate monomers used for sculpting artificial nails are important sensitizers for contact and occupational dermatitis. The most important consideration is primary and secondary prevention.Key words: acrylates, methacrylates, artificial nails, allergic contact dermatitis.

 

*** So tell your artificial nail technicians to read their labels for these allergens. Have any of you been taking an antihistimine before getting nails applied and continuously taking an antihistimine? Just an idea.

Anonymous Non Sufferer

I am new comer in this problem. I have been using acrylic for about three years now. I stopped for a few months and when I started using it again, I experienced the same symptoms of air bubbles and peeling off of the skin around the nails. My skin was just peeling of but there was no pain or ichiness. I decided to try using gel on my own nails instead and constantly moisturise my hands. The peeling off seems to have been reduced greatly and maybe within a week there wont be any. But now a new problem has started. The skin on the upper part of my fingers, where the skin meets the nails is iching terribly. Has anyone used gel and experience the same problem? non Sufferer, would this be an allergic reaction as well?

I've had acrylic nails for over 20 years.  Three years ago I began having problems with redness and severe itching around the nailbeds after application within about 4 hours.  I took my acrylics off for a year and had the same problem return when I tried acrylics again after that year off.  I suffered along with the reaction for about 6 months before I finally called it quits on the acrylics again.  Then a friend told me about a manicurist she goes to and I learned from the new manicurist that it is the chemicals in some of the cheaper quality acrylic products used in many salons now that more often cause reactions.  I tired a final time with this new manicurist and her better quality products and, voila, I have had ABSOLUTELY NO MORE PROBLEMS with that terrible itchiness again.  I'm going on 3 years now without a problem and I'm so happy to have found my new nail gal.  Once when I needed a fill and she couldn't fit me in, I went back to one of my old salons for a quick fill, and the redness and itchiness immediately returned.  Unfortunately, I'll be moving soon and will need to find a new manicurist - I suppose I will just have to ask the name of the products my current manicurist uses and call around to the new salons to see who uses the product.  If I get the name of my miracle acrylic products I will post it here.  Good luck girls!!

hi takoda911, I have had nails for about 25 years.. About 10 years back when I was getting acrylics.. the itchyness started. Took them off for about a month and then tried Gels.. Up to about 3 months ago, I was fine. Now the itchy is back along with the cracking and peeling skin. Did you find out the name of the products that agree with you? I will gladly switch salons to a salon that carries the better products, but I dont know what the better products are ? thank you so much.

I am having many of the same issues as you all have described--the itching, the burning, the peeling. I have went to the same shop for over 8 years and had no issues until I became pregnant with my second child. My pharmacist has informed me on just how easy a womans body can change--whether its a pregnancy, a surgery or simply just stress. As I am also a nail bitter, I'm looking for an alternative to acrylic nails....wonder if gel nails would cause the same problem?

 

could be the nail dehydrator or the primer used before the acrylic application. i am a student cosmetologist and i like to research info about nails. i regularly refer to a web site by a world renown nail technician. here are the lnks to the info. I also included the link to what your technician should be doing for safer application. hope this info is helpful. and try to pass the info on..

***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed***Please read our Terms of Use

Thank you so much for being the first to actually post real causes that I can take to my nail tech so we can fix the problem. I have been struggling with this for years and now I know why. (hint- skip the Asian salons-they all use the drills). I appreciate this post to much!

The last 2 times I have gotten my nails done I have had the same reaction. There was a post in this thread that said it was the dehydrator the salon is using. It was suggested to order an acid-free product from Amazon.com which I did. It was only $7 and worth a shot.  So I tried it today. Same result. :'( My fingers are all itchy. I am at a loss. I have horrible natural nails and have had acrylics for close to 10 years.  any other suggestions???

Thanks for the VITE20 suggestion. I could have written your post. I'm going to try this because I don't want to give up my nails either!

See I have always got my nails done and everytime. Either if I just buy some fake nails or go to a salon and get them done. My Nailz while there on don't hurt nor itch. BUt after a week or so of them on I start seeing blisters (air) And That is when I take my nails off. And when I do the skin from the top of my real nail and undernearth is all dried up and it just start peeling. I only peel like the tips of my finger tips off. And it really tender after that. ?? But I get my nailz done b/c my real nailz are ugy and short I am habited at biting my nails.?

I thought it was just me. I think the product has changed. Of course we will never know the truth. Tired of itchy and dry cuticles.

Hi Pam. I am desperately seeking relief from the same itching/burning/redness/swelling on the tops of my fingers (near the cuticle) after I get an acrylic fill with gel polish. Did you try the acid-free primer? If so, what was the outcome? I have been getting acrylic for around 10 yrs and I started having this reaction a few visits ago. This is miserable. Ugh :-/

Thanks for your help!!! :)

Angela

I have had the same happen years ago.  Horrible itching, redness, skin peeling then in a few days the symptoms would go away.   I know I was having an allergic reaction.  We tried different acrylic products, some I didn't react to as much.   The other thing I came to realize, is if there was too much filing going on with my nails during a fill, my fingers were reacting to over stimulation.  Sounds weird, but that was part of the problem.    To this day I still wear my acrylics but the worst kind of symptoms arent an issue any longer.  I do get dry cuticles easily from the filing & sometimes a tinge of itchiness, but the itching is minimal and goes away quickly.   My dry cuticles are usually what I battle these days so lots of Vitamin E oil and good hand creams.    I think its the dust & having the drill used near my cuticles that cause such dryness.      I had a full hysterectomy several years ago and don't believe that had anything to do with my reaction as I had allergic reactions long before that surgery.     

I BELIEVE THIS IS dyshidrosis

Wow!  The same thing is happening to me.  Skin is itchy, dry and peeling.  The thumbs are the worst.  I thought my skin was being damaged by the filing, now I realize I am allergic.  What a shame, I love my nails.