Are Gel Manicures Bad for Your Nails? Facts to Know

Many beauty urban legends have their roots in gel manicures. Some claim that their brittle nails and flaky nail beds are the result of getting gel manicures. So are gel manicures bad for your nails?

The same fundamental steps that are used in a traditional manicure are also used in a gel manicure, including cuticle care, nail polish application, and buffing the nails. A few affect your nails and overall health more than you might think.

Continue reading to learn more about how gel manicures affect your nails.

Are Gel Manicures Bad for Your Nails?

So is gel manicure bad for nails?

To keep it simple: Yes, your nails are better off on their own than with gel, but you probably already knew that.

The process, as well as the product, are both factors that contribute to this gel’s potential for harm.

What are the problems of getting a gel manicure? Let’s move to the next section.

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The Problems With Gel Manicures

There are several different issues with gel nail polish. Let’s begin with the issue that has been the focus of the most discussion for years: the increased risk of skin cancer that the curing process presents.

UV Exposure

Regardless of the lamp being used, repeatedly being exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) rays during the curing of a gel manicure results in skin aging and DNA damage that can result in cancer.

A risk-free nail lamp is nonexistent, just as there is no such thing as a risk-free tanning bed (which also uses UVA light).

Despite what you may have read, LED lamps still emit UV radiation despite being a safer option.

Temporary Skin and Nail Damage

Even if the curing process didn’t involve UV exposure, it still wouldn’t be the best option for your nails.

The numerous chemicals in gel nail polish can cause your hands all kinds of problems. Need to return to having unpainted nails? Getting there could be a problem, too!

• Gel polish contains acrylate and methacrylate, two substances that are known to trigger allergic reactions like rash (contact dermatitis) and, much less frequently, hives (urticaria).
• Your nails may become temporarily damaged if you remove gel polish carelessly. A general weakening of the nail plate or the appearance of white spots and grooves are other complaints.
• If you don’t give your nails time to recover in between manicures, gel polish can cause them to become dry and brittle.

Alternatives to Gel Manicures

The good news is that there are many different substitutes if you’re ready to call it quits with your curing lamp. You must choose what is most important to you because each option has advantages and disadvantages of its own.

Among the options available to you:

• a traditional manicure using nail polish, whether regular nail polish, peel-off polish, gel-effect polish, non-toxic natural nail polish, or one of the many other options currently available on the market.
• Dip powder nails.
• Press-on nails.

Gel Manicure Safety Tips

Here are a few things you can do before and during your gel manicure to make it as safe as possible:

Apply Sunscreen to Your Hands

Since most nail salons don’t include sunscreen in their gel manicure services, bring your own and ask them to apply it before the nail-painting procedure starts, or do it yourself.

Choose a mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that has an SPF of 30 or higher when relaxing under curing lamps.

Physical barrier sunscreens made of minerals work much more quickly than chemical sunscreens do. You can also buy UV-protective fingerless gloves that leave your nail bed exposed while protecting the rest of your hand.

Leave Your Cuticles Alone!

Since cuticles are rarely adorable, we already know this. However, there is a purpose for the transparent skin at the base of your nail.

If anything, you should be giving your cuticles extra care when you have gel polish on. Apply cuticle oil and moisturize your hands and nails every day.

The risk of your nail peeling when the polish is removed will be decreased and the nail will remain strong underneath the gel.

Remove Any Existing Polish Correctly

If you’ve ever had a gel manicure before, you know that it can be hard to resist the temptation to peel it off — which is one of the worst things you can possibly do to your nails.

Apply cotton balls that have been soaked in acetone to the nail bed and rough up the gel polish’s surface with an emery board if you’re removing the gel polish by yourself.

Make sure the cotton doesn’t touch any nearby skin because that can be very drying and irritating. After the cotton is in place, wrap the nails in aluminum foil to prevent the acetone from evaporating and to keep the cotton balls in place.

If you have to use a tool to finish the job, use an orange stick or plastic cuticle pusher instead of metal tools. And if you have to use metal tools, make sure they’re sterilized.

Read More: How to Repair Nails After Gel Manicure?

Summary: Are Gel Manicures Bad for Your Nails

When it comes to nail cosmetics, gel is not the healthiest option available. Dermatologists are concerned about the UV radiation from the curing lamps, in addition to the risk of nail damage during gel removal posed by both professional nail technicians and do-it-yourselfers.

If you really gel with gel, make sure to apply sunscreen to your hands before going under the lamp, leave your cuticles alone and moisturize extensively afterward.

And when it’s time for your nails to get naked, see a professional or follow the proper polish-removal procedure. No picking!

Read More: How Much is a Gel Manicure?

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