It’s your first trip to the nail salon. You’re excited to choose a color and get your nails painted professionally for the very first time. As you enter the salon, the gasoline-like scent of nail polish strikes you suddenly. Immediately, you wonder: what actually is in nail polish?
Mostly due to social media, nail polish art has recently become an even bigger trend. Nail polish art can be seen on many Instagram accounts, YouTube videos and Snapchat ads to attract people to purchase the cosmetic. In fact, according to Grand View Research, the nail polish market is expected to be worth 15.55 billion by 2024.
Nail polish art is popular and pretty, and if so many people around the world use it, it doesn’t seem as if it could be harmful. However, despite the growing popularity, nail polish can be detrimental to your overall health and well-being.
In a study done by researchers at Duke University and Environmental Working Group, researchers found that the act of painting your nails exposes you to a harmful chemical known as triphenyl phosphate. Triphenyl phosphate is known to disrupt the body’s endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental problems. In addition to TPHP, you could find other harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (which is known to bioaccumulate and disrupt the endocrine system). These ingredients can be found in many nail polish brands, including the ones you believe to be safe. For example, the brand Essie has both triphenyl phosphate and formaldehyde.
If using nail polish to decorate your nails is harmful, it may seem like acrylic nails would be a better alternative, but acrylic nails contain a multitude of chemicals that could be a risk to your health. One chemical, toluene, is known to cause respiratory issues and a possible link to blood cancer, such as malignant lymphoma.
Similar to acrylics, dip powder manicures have been found to have some of the same ingredients. The dip powder manicure has grown the reputation of being “natural” and has even been called “organic”. In addition to the ingredients acrylic nail powder and dip manicure powder share, the dip manicure powder also has titanium dioxide, a possible human carcinogen (only for inhalation and products that may be aerosolized (airborne)).
Gel manicures have also been found to increase your cancer risk. Harvard Health Publishings’ Women’s Health Watch has said that the gel nail polish itself does not increase cancer risks, but the UV light does. “Lamps and light boxes which are used to seal the polish during professional manicures, have raised concern,” according to Harvard Health. The UV lamps are thought to release high level of UVA radiation which could lead to a major role in the development of cancer.
Although conventional nail polish is toxic and poses potential health risks, there are alternatives. Some examples of nail polish brands that lack the major toxic chemicals and rate a “1”on EWG’s Skin Deep database include Piggy Paint and SOPHi.
Consumers of nail polish should be aware of what they are using on their nails. The FDA has not yet banned some of the toxic ingredients in nail polish, urging the customer to inform himself on what is in the product. Individuals who want to remain clear of these potential health risks should either abstain from using polish or shop for safer alternatives.
