Sarasota Dermatology Blog

Nail Polish Allergic Reactions

Posted on 19. Mar, 2009 by Bradley J. Abrams, D.O. in Skin Care

Open a bottle of nail polish and you’re immediately assaulted by the smell of the many chemicals that create nail polish. You may not realize those chemicals that make your nails look beautiful can cause an allergic reaction.

Several nail polishes sold in the United States contain preservatives and hardeners that expose individuals to formaldehyde. Individuals who have become sensitized to this compound can experience redness and itching around their fingernail and the nail bed. This turns some women’s dreams of long painted nails into a nightmare.

You can find nail polishes that don’t contain formaldahyde or other harsh chemicals like phthalates. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of chemicals in these nail polishes that can cause an allergic reaction. But, using a gentler nail polish is a good alternative.

There are a lot of gentler nail polishes on the market. They’re just not as easy to find at your local drug store and usually require multiple coats for the desired results.   Here is a small list of companies that do sell formaldehyde free or gentler nail polishes.

• Acquarella Nail Polish – www.acquarellapolish.com
• Anise Nail Polish – www.anisecosmetics.com
• Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer – www.esteelauder.com
• HoneyBee Gardens Nail Polis – www.honeybeegardens.com
• Mary Kay Signature Top Coat – www.marykay.com

You can still have great looking fingernails without using nail polish. Just ensure you keep them clean, file them regularly, and use a buffer to make your nails shiny.

Tags: allergic reaction, estee lauder, esteelauder, fingernail, fingernails, nail lacquer, nail polish