Poor application and home kits blamed for rise in allergies from nail enhancements
Dermatologists have warned that acrylic and gel-polish nail enhancements are causing a “contact allergy epidemic” in the UK and Ireland after a study found that 2.4% people tested had a reaction to (meth)acrylate chemical – a key ingredient in acrylic, gel and gel-polish nails.
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) discovered a rise in the number of people who have had an allergy to at least one type of (meth)acrylate, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate or ethyl acrylate.
In the report’s audit of 13 UK and Irish dermatology units during 2017, 4,931 patients were tested for (meth)acrylate allergy in the three main types of nail enhancements – acrylic, gel (derived from methacrylates) and gel-polish (a pre-mixed product and hybrid of gel and nail varnish).
2.4% tested positive to at least one type of (meth) acrylate. 60% developed their allergy through “recreational exposure” and 33% through “occupational sensitisation”. Many of this second group worked as nail techs.
Dr David Orton, from the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “Salon owners need to consider the level of training they offer staff in this area as there is a genuine occupational hazard.” Reactions can involve the nails loosening, a red, itchy rash, and very rarely, symptoms such as breathing problems.
Katie Barnes, owner of Katie Barnes Training Academy in Warwickshire, said the problem is growing: “Over the past five years, I’ve seen an increase. Two of the main causes are incorrect curing of gels and liquid and powder products, and poor working techniques such as applying product with oversized brushes, using fingers to tidy up uncured product and working with tissue saturated in monomer.”