The cosmetologist spoke about the pros and cons of false nails

Girls with thin nails are increasingly turning to artificial nail extensions as convenient false nails return to the beauty market. They allow your hands to look well-groomed, even if you can’t get to a beauty salon. But cosmetologists and dermatologists do not share a common love for such a solution for fashionistas. “This can be not only convenient, but also risky,” experts say.

Getting false nails done is much faster and cheaper than applying professional types of acrylic and gel polish. This type of manicure offers more versatility in fashionable nail designs than the average salon manicurist can offer. But this convenience will come at a high price, according to experts. They warn that false nails may pose hidden health risks that many beauty enthusiasts are unaware of.

“Risks of permanently wearing false nails include damage to the nail plate during the removal process, allergic reactions to the glue, and the risk of infection if proper hygiene is not maintained while wearing them,” cosmetic dermatologist Connie Young told The New York Post.

As a reminder, the process of applying false nails involves cleaning the nail bed, pushing back the cuticles, applying glue, and pressing the decorative nail firmly against yours.

Health problems such as infections can occur when people do not follow the correct application procedure because they apply the overlay to a dirty nail bed.

Young added that “if moisture gets between the false nail and natural nail, it can create an environment for fungus to grow.”

But Jasmine Rana, director of the nail clinic at Stanford Medical Center, recently explained to The Huffington Post that infection can occur simply from daily hand washing when the artificial nail becomes a little loose.

Press-on nails are attached using adhesive tape applied directly to the nails to prevent them from falling off – a major fear of many nail extension newbies.

Many people tend to coat their nail beds with glue to avoid trouble, but too much glue can cause an allergic reaction. Even those who do not have an allergy can develop one over time if the body becomes sensitive to any of the materials in the adhesive. This occurs because many of the ingredients contain alcohol, cyanoacrylate, or photobound methacrylate, the National Library of Medicine noted.

“The most common contact allergen in nail glue is methacrylates, such as methyl methacrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate, which can cause localized rash or irritation,” the dermatologist noted.

People who wear false nails may also be at risk for developing hand eczema, Dr. Rana shared.

“Hand eczema is a type of contact dermatitis that forms due to chemical irritants in the environment,” explained the National Eczema Association. “So, this means that if you touch your face or neck, it can show up in those areas. We saw it on the eyelid, face, neck, hand.

Experts stress that removing a nail is more difficult than installing it, but many people quickly pull off glued-on nails once some of them start to fall off, resulting in damaged nails.

“To minimize trauma and damage to your natural nail, I recommend soaking your fingers in acetone or a mixture of warm water and dish soap for 10 to 15 minutes to soften the glue and pressure,” says Connie Young about the proper procedure.

Removing false nails can cause the nail plates to separate from the nail bed, causing weak and brittle nails that are prone to splitting, and peeling or chipped nails.

The beautician claims that you should not use force: “If you feel resistance, hold it a little longer and continue this process until they come off easily. “You may also consider applying a small amount of cuticle oil to help prevent slipping.”