On Friday, April 14, the government body issued a safety statement as “more and more” Brits are experiencing severe reactions to methacrylate chemicals. During gel manicures, methacrylate can enter the skin if the ultraviolet (UV) lamps do not work with the type of gel polish applied. Each gel polish brand has an exact curing time which should be adhered to, often either 30, 60 or 90 seconds.
Dr Deirdre Buckley, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “We’re seeing [reactions] more and more because more people are buying DIY kits, developing an allergy and then going to a salon, and the allergy gets worse.”
Dr Buckley said an allergy to methacrylate can cause people to have “trouble breathing”.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today Programme, the expert warned: “Asthma can be worsened.”
Not only that, people can “become sensitive to acrylates in other things”, which can “have implications in dentistry or if they’re diabetic”.
READ MORE: Mum’s ‘strange’ symptom that led to a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis
1431797
The lifelong sensitivity could also be bad news for those needing orthopaedic surgery.
Dr Buckley explained: “Many people are unaware of potential medical and dental implications if they become sensitised to nail methacrylates.”
Diabetic glucose sensors and insulin pumps, for example, may contain acrylate.
Dr Buckley said the sensitivity “can have serious consequences for future medical care”.
Allergies to methacrylate, including patients exposed to it through nail polish use, “has been reported to cause loosening of hip replacements”, Dr Buckley added.
Dr Buckley said: “It’s important that people are aware of the potential risks of artificial nail products, whether they are having them applied in a salon or at home.
“Nail technicians are particularly at risk and should wear nitrile gloves when applying the products, changing them every 30 minutes with a no-touch technique.”
Most reactions, however, have been linked with at-home gel manicure kits.
READ MORE: Mum’s ‘strange’ symptom that led to a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis
Claire from Warwickshire spoke to the Daily Mail about her allergic reaction to methacrylate in gel polish.
“I used antihistamine after the [manicure], even applied Vaseline around the nail during the procedure to no avail,” said Claire.
“No technician ever explained what could be happening, offered any explanation or indeed refused to do the treatment.
“Foolishly I spent over a year denying there was an issue and instead told myself beauty was pain.”
Claire had “red and itchy nails”, her fingers became swollen and blistered, and the skin around her nails peeled off.
The government body statement read: “All cosmetics made available in the UK must comply with strict safety laws.
“This includes a list of ingredients to enable consumers with allergies to identify products that may be unsuitable for them.”
A spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists said: “If you do use an at-home kit, make sure that you use the recommended UV lamp for curing, avoid direct skin contact with the nail product, and read the instructions carefully.”
