Warning: Nail Care Chemical Hazzard Must Know

from hands and feet

No portion of the beauty business contains as many hazardous chemicals as the nail industry. Getting straightforward information about these chemicals isn't always easy, however. The labels don't tell you much, and it's hard to know what to look for. The list below red-flags some potentially hazardous ingredients to avoid:

Formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen and common allergen, can cause your eyes to water, your nose to burn, and your skin to develop dermatitis. Look for "formaldehyde-free" on the label.

Acetone, a main ingredient in many nail polish removers, may cause nausea; ear, nose, and throat irritation; dizziness; and dermatitis. Look for polish remover labeled "non-acetone."

Acrylates are ingredients ending in "crylate." They can cause nose, throat, and eye irritation, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and asthma.

Acetonitrile (aka methyl cyanide) is found in many artificial nail removers; it absorbs rapidly through the skin and is extremely toxic, especially for pregnant women because it can cause birth defects. Avoid it.

Fiberglass dust. When you file or grind wraps made of fiberglass, you inhale fiberglass dust. Even though it has very few fibers, don't breathe it in.

Toluene. A chemical in spray paint, rubber cement, airplane glue, gasoline, and nail enamel, toluene acts as a thinner in nail polish, making it spreadable. But, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency, excessive exposure at certain levels and under certain circumstances can cause birth defects, such as mental retardation or a syndrome called "toluene embryopathy," characterized by reduced fetal weight, small head size, and facial deformities. Many cosmetics companies—Revlon, Avon, Maybelline, Christian Dior, Elizabeth Arden, and Cutex—have removed toluene from their polishes. Look for polishes with the label 'toluene-free."