Understand causes, symptoms, and responsible care
There is still a lot of confusion surrounding nail allergies and how to deal with them.
Seek advice about nail allergies on social media
SM has countless photos asking for opinions, many of which say we are not doctors and cannot diagnose. So what?
If a client has a nail coating that is known to be allergenic and develops symptoms, it can take years for an immune response to occur, so even if the client receives the same nail service for an extended period of time, It’s okay if you don’t get a response.
The only next step is to see a doctor. Many general practitioners lack knowledge about common acrylate reactions and often ignore them as fungal infections or prescribe antibiotics or steroid creams.
No one should take antibiotics unless necessary, as immunity to them builds up in the body and becomes ineffective if used in an emergency. Steroid creams can thin the skin and do not cure allergic reactions.
Important steps for allergic reactions and fungal identification
The final step to improving allergic reactions involves removing the allergen completely. In this case, it refers to the coating of the nail.
Testing is an essential way to determine whether your symptoms are due to a fungal infection.
The only real answer to knowing how to deal with a potential allergy is to have a dermatologist patch test, and specifically for acrylates and methacrylates (not all dermatologists are qualified to do so). Not!). If the general practitioner refuses to refer the patient to a dermatologist, they should advise that the patient suffers from a known allergen, such as a nail coating. Once this is done and you get results, you can avoid very specific ingredients.
Testing HEMA Free Nail Products: Caution and Customer Responsibility
It may be worth trying a HEMA-free product on one nail, but at that point the person may be allergic to, or about to become allergic to, many other acrylates. However, if the client persists, it can be done as long as the client agrees to come back in a week to have the nail removed to check the condition of the nail plate and nail bed.
Preliminary allergen testing: required before nail coating application
Do not apply any coating until this test has been performed. If so, the manicurist is responsible for causing further damage and is highly likely to act responsibly.
If a reaction occurs, clients are encouraged to report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Bureau, and nail technicians should report it to the manufacturer.
Nail products: proper curing and prevention
Many known allergens are used in nail products, but they are allowed because the product must not come into contact with the skin and must cure properly. For a deeper understanding, see all the information about the appropriate treatment and watch the video about allergies and the mechanisms of their development.
Navigating HEMA and monomer reactions
Although HEMA is not always the problem, reactions to HEMA can cause reactions from other monomers.
It is very important that all manicurists know what to do in situations like this; anything else is unprofessional and will expose the client to long-term problems and damage.
