Why Do Your Fingers Itch After Getting Acrylic Nails?
In most cases, people who get gel manicure at home experiences itchy fingers after getting gel nails while those who do their manicure at the nail salon rarely face this problem.
Although there are many causes of itchy fingers, gel is not one of them but it might be one of the things that trigger it.
Itchy Fingers After Acrylic Nails: The Causes
There are many factors contributing to itchy fingers such as chemicals used during gel manicure but Methacrylate the main chemical used in gel nails is the primary cause of itchy fingers.
For some people, severe allergy or dermatitis occurs after gel nail manicure because the nail tech forgets to wipe off the gel from the fingers and nails.
The methacrylate chemicals in gel react with the skin causing itchiness. The reason this rarely happens is because cleaning or wiping off gels from the fingers and nails after manicure is a routine procedure only that a few nail techs may forget to do it.
To help avoid these, dermatologists have recommended cleaning and wiping of the hands and fingers thoroughly after a nail manicure is something that must be highly demanded of nail techs both during training or working at any nail salon.
This is because applying this critical procedure will help protect the health of clients while also shielding the nail salon from losses, poor reputation due to lawsuits filed by clients who end up having chemical reactions in their hands which can lead to burns, skin or nail peeling, itching, rashes and swelling.
It is important to note that such symptoms may not appear at once as they vary from mild up to severe which may need medical attention.
Sensitive Skin
Before we draw the conclusion that gels contribute to itchy fingers, we must first understand that there are skins that are sensitive and react negatively to some chemicals that are not used to and when they come into contact with them, they react causing allergy.
This information is ideal for those people with contact dermatitis whose skin always reacts when they come into contact with certain surfaces or chemicals. If you are planning to have gel nail, you should first pay a visit to a dermatologist who will tell you if the step you are about to take will have any effect on your skin.
This is because it would frustrate you when you don’t know what would cause allergic reaction or not that can affect your delicate skin that always develops rashes, irritation and breakouts. You should be careful before going to a nail salon if your skin always reacts to cleaning chemicals, perfumes and soaps.
Consult your dermatologist in order to find whether gels or chemicals used in nail treatment at the nail salon will affect you an if possible, ask the doctor to carry out allergy examination to check if you have a sensitive skin.
Just remember that when you know or understand the type of food and chemicals that affect your skin will give you the peace and comfort everyone needs.
Can Gel Nails Cause A Rash On Other Parts Of My Body?
Gel nails will cause rashes on any part of the body it comes into contact with. In most cases this affects the body parts that people touch while on their daily routines such as the hands, neck, genitals and the face.
Many ends up frustrated or frightened after getting their gel nails and develop rashes and the other symptoms of allergy and cannot attribute them to nail gels.
It is recommended that when you decide to visit a doctor for allergic skin treatments, inform them about the time you went to a nail salon to get your nails done and the type of manicure you did.
This will help them in their diagnosis and ascertain the chemicals that your skin might have exposed to that led to the reaction.
The following are some of the ways you can avoid or prevent chemicals from coming into contact with your sensitive skin during gel manicure.
Before that, have in mind that when your fingers start to itch during gel nails manicure, inform your nail technicians immediately for them to clean and wipe off your hands and fingers to help in neutralizing the reaction.
Be conscious about what you are touching.
Once your gel nails are done, put on gloves and when you don’t have them, do not touch any sensitive part of the body like the arms, neck or the face for a few hours. You should also pay attention to any symptoms of allergic reaction.
Report it and resolve it quickly
When it’s time for your filling appointment, inform your nail tech what happened after the last time he or she gave you the manicure.
They will be able to know and understand the reason or if they made a mistake, they will be careful not to repeat them. You can also change your tech if you so wish.
Nail Techs and Beauticians Are At Risk
The people at the risk of experiencing itchy fingers are the nail technicians and those who work at the nail salon.
Every single day they are being exposed to the chemicals such as acrylic powder, glue, nail gel, tourmalines, and activators.
Dermatologists claims the training of these people is not sufficient enough to prepare them to handle their businesses while also protecting their health and safety during the use of nail chemicals.
The say they must use gloves and be taken through and intensive training.
Anyone working at a nail salon must always wash hands and monitor their bodies for any symptom of reactions and if possible avoid using the chemicals that affect them.
Long-Term Effects
Skin allergy is likely to affect people who work in nail salons with gel and those who usually get gel nail manicure.
This is because the nail chemicals being used are be xenoestrogens which when they contact the skin they alter the body chemistry and more so the hormonal balance.
After a long period of being exposed to them, the body ends up developing allergies and this may be years of using the chemicals.
It is critical that you go for a medical examination once you notice unusual reaction that you do not know the cause. If you are a nail tech, always wear nitrile gloves when attending to your clients.
Is My Home Kit Safe?
Yes, the gel kit for home use is very safe but it’s until you do not use it accordingly or failed to follow the instructions that you start experiencing contact dermatitis and itchy fingers.
Always remember to read and follow the instructions.
You must be patient enough, read all the instruction and understand them and most importantly, never skip the precautions and tests to find out if the reactions that occur are those listed.
Although there are complaints that using gloves will prevent the nail tech from feeling the smoothness of nails during filling, it can’t be compared to their benefits as far as curbing itchy fingers is concerned.
Wear small gloves which you will adapt fast working with them and will easily feel objects through them because they are tight enough and do not wrinkle or roll up.
However, using gloves will not be the final trick; you must always keep coming into contact with any part of the skin.
Always use the hand that is dormant for balancing so as to avoid the hand you use in manicure coming into contact with the skin.
Another thing to take into consideration is that you can switch between hands only when you can confidently work using both because using a hand that is non-dominant will likely cause chemical spillage.
How Is Contact Dermatitis From Gel Nails Treated?
Corticosteroid creams are mostly used to treat contact dermatitis which results from gel nails. These creams can be prescribed together with antibiotics if you have an infection or the condition may lead to an infection.
Aggressive treatment such as cold compress and Systemic corticosteroids is mostly used when fake nails invades the original nail causing severe inflammation and cannot be removed.
Hypoallergenic nail enamels can also be used although it’s challenging to do it with gel nails since every chemical is found in each layer and so it changes the purpose of gels.
People with persistent contact dermatitis are advised not to use nail enamels that are hypoallergenic and gels.
What’s The Difference between Gel and Acrylics?
If you’re only allergic to gel nail manicures and not solvents or nail adhesives, then since the chemicals in gels seems to make your skin break out, other forms of treating nails such as acrylics could be the best option for you.
In some aspects, acrylics and gels are vastly different, but in others, they’re nearly same but let’s look at it. When you dip acrylics powder, they change into a solvent that forms a nail that is strong over the natural nails.
For them to dry, they can be sprayed, dried in the air or cure the polish using a LED lamp even though this is not required.
Gels are available in three coatings which are the topcoat, basecoat and color. During manicure, these three must be cured in a specific manner since they go live when paint is applied and the gel turns into the shape and color required. They are then dried and treated under Led Lights or UV.
Some people believe that gels are not destructive to natural nails, but if this is true, it doesn’t make a difference when you react to them since the final outcome is same.
What About Dip Nails?
If your body reacts only to a specific thing in gel after getting a gel manicure, then it is possible for you to use other nail treatments such as dip nails because with them, you are able to control what comes into contact with your skin.
There are two ways to accomplish this. Dipping the nails into the powder that is colored or brush it on like it is done in acrylic manicure to avoid sensitivity.
After doing this, you can remove debris that accumulates on your hands or fingers by wiping them off. In order to clean and shape your nails neatly, work on them one by one but be extra cautious when working on the hand that is dominant using the none-dominant.
When In Doubt, Ask a Friend
For anyone planning to do manicure using at home kits, something that is not told anywhere else is that in order to get less or no single allergic effects and save money, one has to seek the assistance of a friend when during manicure.
This also helps in promoting social relationships and you get a honest person to look at the nails from correct angle unlike the none-straight awkward nail salon position. You will be able to guide them as they do your nails and also during wiping and cleaning.
How to Take Care of Your Nails between Gel Manicures
The health of natural nails depends on how well you care for them before having another gel manicure. After a gel manicure you should allow your natural nails to breathe for up to two months.
This will be difficult for anyone who always desires to have a flawless manicure but if you really care about their healthy, this wouldn’t be a problem for you.
If you fail to give your nails such breaks, they are going to become porous and weak because will be more susceptible to allergic responses and infection. Even if you’ve not been allergic before, keep in mind that you risk developing one at any time.
A reaction will also be triggered if the exposed skin of the nail bed is sensitive or if the chemical heat passes through the natural nail that has been thinned. The majority of individuals don’t completely comprehend the ramifications of artificial nail whether its acrylics or gel manicure.
Another thing to do is taking a break from gel polish by using conventional polish. If you worry you’re your hands might still look ugly, then you have no reason to worry because Hypoallergenic polish comes in a variety of hues that will still make your nails look great to complete your outfit.
How Can I Protect Myself During The Drying Process Of The Gel Manicure?
The following tips have reportedly worked for some people and I think it will also help you visit the nail salon for your manicure or nail treatment of your choice where Led light or UV is being used. You should note that the two options can result in skin cancer or skin damaged caused by radiation.
You should apply sunscreen to your cuticles and hands before getting a manicure and cut the tips off black opaque gloves to shield your hands and fingers.
If you are getting fake nails for the first time, then you need to give each one a try to find out how you like them.
Because gels have three layers with chemicals, those who are sensitive can first begin by doing gels in order to check if there will be any reaction and if there is, it will help you get them out of your manicure list.
Bottom Line
Your fingers itch after a gel manicure because people react to the gel differently. So, whether you have the best acrylic nail designs for summer or fall, follow all the guidelines suggested above to keep you from worrying about failing to get a nice shiny gel nail set.
Leave space in between so that your natural nails have enough time to heal. How you treat your nails determines how they treat you.
The people at the risk of experiencing itchy fingers are the nail technicians and those who work at the nail salon.
This is because every single day they are being exposed to the chemicals such as acrylic powder, glue, nail gel, tourmalines, and activators.
If you’re only allergic to gel nail manicures and not solvents or nail adhesives, then since the chemicals in gels seems to make your skin break out, other forms of treating nails such as acrylics could be the best option for you.
The health of natural nails depends on how well you care for them before having another gel manicure. After a gel manicure you should allow your natural nails to breathe for up to two months.
This will be difficult for anyone who always desires to have a flawless manicure but if you really care about their healthy, this wouldn’t be a problem for you.
