Can you become allergic to artificial nails?
Het Nieuwsblad, 17 June 2024
Can you become allergic to gel or acrylic nails? An explanation of acrylate allergy, its symptoms and how a patch test tracks down the cause.
On TikTok, users are warning about an allergy to acrylates, substances found in gel and acrylic nails among other things. Het Nieuwsblad asked Clinique Dermatologie Gent to explain.
Acrylates are a group of substances used as a binder in many products, from nail varnish and paint to glasses and hearing aids. An allergy to them is a contact allergy: it only develops after repeated contact, after which the immune system reacts faster on the next exposure. It is mainly the small building blocks in uncured gel that easily penetrate the skin, which is why nail technicians are affected more often than their clients.
The allergy usually shows up as eczema with redness, itching, small blisters or cracks. Ointments relieve the symptoms, but finding the cause requires a patch test on the back.
Key advice
An allergy can develop at any age, even after years without symptoms.
Eczema after a nail treatment is a reason to get tested.
A patch test at the dermatologist shows which substance is causing the reaction.
Want to know more? Read about Allergies and eczema at Clinique Dermatologie Gent.