Does your gel create allergies?

More and more customers are complaining about allergies after nail treatments. Did you know that there are materials in some gels that not only cause allergic reactions themselves but also lead to further allergies?

You can protect yourself and your customers by looking at the list of ingredients. Learn which abbreviations to look for.

Allergies are spreading among the population. This also affects nail products; therefore, caution should be exercised when choosing them. Many products contain allergens which are substances that trigger a strong body reaction of allergy sufferers. 

There are allergens that not only trigger allergic reactions themselves but also make people more sensitive to other substances, making a new allergy to a new substance likely. Jim McConnell calls these special materials gateway allergens because they can be the gateway to other allergies.

Symptoms

In the case of a nail product allergy,  the skin - especially around the nail - may be red, tense, itchy after a treatment. In some cases a rash with pustules or blisters can appear. This is very uncomfortable for customers, especially with a gel that you cannot remove yourself at home.

Nail product allergies and gateway allergens

In the second Chemist Corner Jim McConnell talks about allergens in nail products. Chemist Corner is Jim's video series designed to inform nail designers about their products.

Watch the video now!

HEA and HEMA

If the raw material HEA (hydroxyethyl acrylate) occurs in your product, allergic reactions are to be expected and if you ever become allergic to the gateway allergen HEA, then it is very likely that you will develop an allergy to the gel raw material HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) in the future.

Gateway allergen THFA

Another gateway allergen to watch out for is THFA (tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate). If you have become allergic to the gateway allergen THFA, an allergy to THFMA (tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate) follows in many cases.

Beware of these substances

Read the ingredients list of your products to avoid allergic reactions and even further allergies. Pay attention to HEA and THFA. These are gateway allergens that can trigger new allergies to HEMA and THFMA. If you want to avoid allergies, always try to avoid substances without methacrylated versions, as they cause allergic reactions more quickly.

Jim McConnell is co-founder and head chemist of Light Elegance. He has a degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics, physics and biology. In the Chemist Corner, he shares in a simple and entertaining way what is included in your nail design products and what you should avoid when choosing them.