Unraveling the mystery of yellowing of nail plates
We often receive questions about nail care issues, which can be confusing and frustrating for professionals and clients alike. One recurring topic that causes a lot of curiosity and concern concerns yellowing of the nail plate. Many believe that this discoloration is mainly caused by the pigments contained in nail polish. However, recent research and expert insights suggest that other elements, such as nitrocellulose and various colorants, may play an important role.
This article delves into the intricacies of the true causes of nail plate yellowing, backed by expert analysis and industry knowledge, and sheds light on this common but misunderstood problem.
Understanding Nail Discoloration: Colorants and Their Effects
The dye is unlikely to stain the nail plate. They are too large to penetrate. Dyes and lakes are other types of colorants that are commonly used, and many can and do stain the nail plate. There are three different red and one yellow colorants that are reported to be most likely to stain the nail plate. Red colorant is listed as red number 2 on the product ingredient label. 6, Red No. 7, or Red No. 34. In the European Union, all three of these red colorants are sold under the color index number “15850.” The yellow that is reported to cause a lot of staining is Yellow #5 Lake, labeled “19140” in the European Union.
The role of nitrocellulose in nail yellowing: quality matters
Certainly, some grades of nitrocellulose can pick up dirt as well. However, the more expensive, higher quality grades are much less likely to discolor. Smaller companies that don’t sell many nail polishes often use these inferior grades. This is because the highest grades are expensive when purchased in small quantities, and large companies buy up all high-quality nitrocellulose. When stained, nitrocellulose tends to become a brownish-yellow stain, while discoloration caused by colorants tends to be a bright yellowish tone or other odd shades such as green.
Base coat investigation: Nitrocellulose and nail plate fragility
If this base coat contains nitrocellulose and no colorant, suspect nitrocellulose. However, a high-quality base coat will not stain the nail plate unless the surface of the nail plate is damaged. Damaged nail plates are much more likely to pick up dirt, even from food stains or clothing. A damaged nail plate absorbs dirt more easily than a healthy nail plate. It is an oversimplification to say that nitrocellulose is the cause of yellowing of nails. A marketer tends to oversimplify things for three reasons.
- They don’t understand the problem, so instead of telling you the facts, they keep it simple to hide their lack of understanding.
- Many nail technicians often don’t understand these issues, so keep your message simple.
- Marketers often exaggerate information, focusing only on what will help them sell their products.
It is definitely an oversimplification that nitrocellulose stains the nail plate. Probably the cause is “dye” and “lake”.
