Why Am I Allergic To Gel Nails? 4 Probable Culprits To Gel Nail Allergies

[@nikkifiggy]

I wish I knew this sooner! I would carelessly wipe my nails and get gel ALL over my fingers while doing my nails during covid. I had been doing them for 2 years on my own and I eventually became allergic! Completely makes sense why this happened but I just thought I was okay since I hadn’t had an allergy the first time. I’ve done more research now and use hypoallergenic products but it gets pretty pricey.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

So sorry to hear. Yes hypo-allergenic products can be pricier but you shouldn’t need to stock as much as you would if you were in business.

[@haleyjohnson2394]

me tooooo :/ however, this information needs to be out there with techs too. Ive been getting my nails done for over 15 years. I cant tell you how many nail salons / techs use products improperly.. touch your skin and wipe product with their fingers. The lacking knowledge is the problem. This has become such a headache to deal with. I do my own nails now because I cant trust salons.

[@sheremainsbiblical]

What products do you use?): because girlllll I’m the sameeeee way!!!

[@L0veepanicc]

yes we need those reccs!@@sheremainsbiblical

[@carmella88]

Me too are u ok now did it get better

[@deenaroberts]

I’ve been doing my own gel nails for several years and lately the skin under them is starting to peel and crack and be itchy. I guess I developed an allergy. I’m sooo sad! I do my nails every 3 weeks and love the strength of them and how pretty they are. I am trying to figure out if I can let them heal and do them later, AND if I need a new lamp or not.

[@evaabaybeeyzaguirre3885]

That’s exactly what happened to me too, my nails would itch & my skin underneath the nail bed peeled it’s currently healing but I looks ugly 😢

[@stephanielara4657]

Im so sad too, I love doing nails and now I’m allergic 😢

[@creativesolutionstoart]

I am really concerned about this. I just started doing my own nails again this month. I’m a cosmetologist by trade, so I have been trained in acrylic application and took my nails off about 15 years ago. So gel nails are new to me. I am sensitive to chemicals, which is why I don’t want to go back to acrylics. i’m trying to figure out the least exposure to gel while combining it with other methods for low toxicity. I am trying out full nail tips that are gel that you glue on like press sans. under that, applying a rubberized basecoat to protect the nail plate. Strengthening the nail tip press on with a base gel. Then using regular nail polish for my colors. Unless I pre-make my own press sans while the nails are on a little stand I can use the gel polish before I glue them on. I really hope that your nails heal and there is another way you can get back to having nails again❤

[@creativesolutionstoart]

The lamp issue can be super confusing and very expensive to figure out. I use daisy gel and it is compatible with a 60 W lamp. But I’ve seen lamps that go up to 180 W. Is it all about Thewatts, Or can more time be used to make sure it is fully cured? By the way I’m a cosmetologist by trade for over 25 years, but the last time I did nails was with acrylics over 15 years ago. I currently am not working due to a disability so I am no longer in the midst of the industry. Thank you so much!

[@stephycat]

thats exacly what happened to me after a long time of using it i sudenly became allergic and the skin around my nails was peeling and i could even see bubbles under my skin and now sadly im allergic to gel.

[@thatssopinky]

I just recently found a way to do press on's with my extremely sensitive nail allergy. Background: After 10 years of getting acrylics, I became allergic (I found out in 2017). My allergy has progressively got bad. I cannot get acrylics of any kind (no polygel or dip powder), gel polish, press on nails (allergic to the nail glue), and most recently found out that I can't get lash extensions- and I found out the hard way by ending up in the ER. I also can't even get a pedicure b/c I can't even be in the same salon where people are getting acrylics or using gel polish because I developed an allergy to the particles in the air and inhaling them (and I went in with a mask during COVID). I was SO hopeless because I can't do anything "girly". I actually found and tested a method that uses nail guards to cover and protect the nail, to which I had NO reaction to and found a way to do press on's and make them last (2-3 weeks!). Key here is to not allow it to touch your skin or nail without the barrier PLUS take your time doing it. I recommend the nail guards for anyone who is also not allergic and just gets their nails done regularly, to prevent an allergy from forming and to protect their natural nails. Things needed: - Nail File - Acetone/nail dehydrator - Cotton Balls/Cotton Pads - Orly Bonder (Rubberized Coat) or any bonder of your choice (some bonders have acrylates in them so check ingredients to ensure they don't. Orly does not contain any acrylates of any kind) - Dashing Diva Nail Guard Kit (this is optional, please see more in Things to know section below- bought at Sally's or Online on their website. I believe Amazon also has them as well) - Nail adhesive tabs (I like the Kiss Tab To Go Super Adhesive Tabs) - Nail Glue of your choice (I like Kiss brand but I also saw that Dashing Diva also has the Fast Bond nail glue that I heard was good too) - Press on nails of your choice Steps: 1) Slightly buff nails with nail file. Also, slighty buff the inside of the press on nails too (the area that matches up to where it will go on over the nail) 2) Dehydrate nails with acetone and cotton pad/cotton ball. Do the same with the press on nails where it will go over your natural nail. 3) Use 2 coats of Orly Bonder over each of your nails. Ensure that it dries fully. 1 coat for me did not cut it or create that rubbery base coat that I needed. 4) Apply a strip of Dashing Diva Nail Guards to your nail. One side will stick to your nail, the other side will NOT be sticky. File down as needed to fit your nail. 5) This is where the adhesive tabs come in- apply the adhesive tab to your nail. I try to focus it on the middle, as they usually do not cover the entire nail for me. 6) On top of the Adhesive tab, apply a tiny dot (not even a full drop) of nail glue in the middle of the adhesive tab/nail, ensuring that it does not touch your skin, the cuticle, or would spill over your nail onto your skin. Let the drop sit for a second and slightly get tacky so it doesn't move a lot when you press the nail down. 7) Apply the nail on top of the adhesive tab with the tiny drop of glue. Press and hold the nail for about 30 seconds. THINGS TO KNOW: • I RECOMMEND DOING A PATCH TEST BY DOING 1 to 2 NAILS AND WAITING ABOUT 24 HOURS TO SEE IF YOU GET A REACTION. YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY THIS VERY CAREFULLY AND AVOID GETTING PRODUCT ON YOUR SKIN, AS YOU SHOULD WITH ALL NAIL PRODUCTS. • Optional: After applying your Orly rubber based coat, you can apply one tiny micro drop of nail glue on your nail and then the adhesive tab over it to secure the tab to the nail. Ensure that if you use the nail glue, it goes in the middle of your nail and is a TINY drop (I mean like micro) so that it does not come in contact with your skin or cuticles. However, I would recommend patch testing with this method. • The Dashing Diva Nail Guard contains acrylates copolymer. Most people are allergic to the monomers as opposed to the copolymer- if I am not mistaken and based on what I read, the copolymer is the finished version of it as opposed to the monomer which is the unfinished version of it (I am in no way a chemist nor scientist so please read up and don't quote me, lol). There are a lot of products that we use that contain acrylates copolymer (lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, skin care products, sun screen and even some popular face washes- I searched the ingredients of my face washes and most of them had them in there!). EWG (Environmental Working Group) has information on acrylate copolymer and will rate and list all products that contain it here: www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700123-ACRYLATES_COPOLYMER/ • I tend to do my press on nails at night, after I clean and shower to ensure that they have plenty of time to set over night without getting wet, having to wash your hands and do too much moving. They last WAY longer that way. • I like to prep my hands by exfoliating them about an hour or 2 before and moisturizing my hands with a good cream or lotion (like CeraVe) and giving it time to set into my skin to create a good barrier. I have even heard of some people soaking their hands in olive oil and then washing them to balance out the moisture. Prepping your hands is a must. • If you don't want to do all of the steps above, you can just do the prep, apply the bonder, adhesive tab, and drop of nail glue on the adhesive tab and then the press on nail. That method worked good and the nail lasted me over 2 weeks as well, I wash dishes everyday and of course, shower, and bathe my kids. The nail didn't come loose at all. The dashing diva strips really protect the nail though. I hope this helps those of you who are in desperate need to be girly again and be able to get your nails done! Also, I hope this helps a nail tech who has a client that comes across the same issues I did. I am considering making a video covering this and going over all of the steps.

[@celestialstar8115]

I saw this comment of yours on another video too. Thank you for spreading the information. Others can use this method too. And thank you for sharing about the allergies to nail products and lash extensions. Others can stay safe too.

[@thatssopinky]

Of course, and just FYI, I updated the comment with more information and organized it a bit. I just want people to be warned about this and possibly have a way to do this the safe way. It's so sad how many people are becoming allergic, and even nail salon workers too! I hope this helps. Let me know if you try it and it works.

[@aureecee3781]

Thank you for this 😊

[@mcca0584]

I have heard of people that develop the allergies to gel products also cannot use beauty products with acrylate copolymer. So that would mean these things are indeed contaminated with unreacted monomer. The copolymer is a long chain of the monomers. So, have we as unknowing consumers been helping sensitize ourselves with these contaminated products that we rub into our skin, apply on our lashes (which slightly get into sensitive skin of our eyelids), and rub into our hair? Multiple products, every day, for years. I don’t trust these companies at all to care about not contaminating their products with residual reagent (monomer). No chemical reaction has a perfect 100% completion rate. This also lines up time wise, the use of acrylate copolymer in besubty products really took off in the early 2000’s.

[@denie8]

oh wow! thank you so much for sharing all of this with us. definitely going to save this :)

[@carolvan664]

As someone who is allergy prone and is a DIY'er, I use great care in application. I have a tendency to over file my thin nails, which is a def no no. I have had lifting of my nails from the nail bed in the past (oncolysis). I took a long break, got educated. No problems this time around. Its because of vids like this that will help me continue to allow me to do my own nails safely at home. Thank you!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

So glad your issues were resolved ❤️

[@noork.1344]

Hi Carol, as a DIY’er myself, I wanted to ask if you have any tips on how to avoid oncholysis? I just want to know what you have learnt now on what to avoid and how to prevent it as you can speak from experience. Thank you 💗

[@cecillesantos2254]

how long did you wait till you do ur nails again with gels

[@carolvan664]

@@cecillesantos2254 I waited till the lifted part grew off. Injured nails grow more quickly for me so maybe 2 months. Less issues now, but still careful.

[@kristinasportal]

I’m relatively a newbie to doing my own extensions. I’m working very hard to learn to be extremely careful with gel application.

[@tianandbeauty]

Omg! I can testify that after changing to a professional lamp, my allergies are gone! I guess mine is not severe in the first place! Thanks for sharing!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Wow!

[@brittneykilpatrick]

Can you recommend a professional lamp? Please and thank you

[@tianandbeauty]

@@brittneykilpatrick I love the Madam Glam one, and I use Madam Glam gels so they match. I would recommend going through your collection and find a brand you have a lot of gels and get that lamp. I heard CND and Light elegance has good lamps and I'm very certain the CND lamp only works with CND shellac...

[@dawnjohnson5974]

Hi there! Thanks for the great info. I started having itchy hands like 1.5 years ago. I have gotten acrylics for years then the itching started. It doesnt matter if I do acrylics, just gel polish, or now gel x. I even changed nail techs. I get them done, it itches for three days then just stops. No swelling or bumps, just the itching.

[@Elizabeth-fj9uy]

Thank you for this video, it was incredibly informative. Unfortunately I developed an allergy about a month ago after 2 years of doing my own full cover gel nails. I wasn’t very careful and I didn’t do all the research I should have done. I was only doing it on myself and thought of it as a fun hobby more than chemicals that could cause a dangerous reaction, I have definitely learned my lesson. Wish I found your videos earlier but still subscribed as I enjoy learning more from you!

[@tinacarnicello9287]

For people with allergies it’s fun to use a practice hand for building nails and nail holders to make nails to wear later . I use a peel off base if needed to pop them off 😊

[@celestec2693]

I think it became more frequent due to the panderona. We were in lock down and salons were closed so what did we do? Lol. I know bc I did it. I started to doing mine at home. I watched all the videos, I was two years in and finally had my game down and boom! Allergy. I was so injured that i had to be prescribed pain pills. Now I’m cleared to just be on the look out for a specific chemical and I have my game down meticulously and I’ve studied chemicals an insane amount.

[@Beckanai]

This is extremely helpful. I believe I've developed an allergy and I couldn't understand how or why. I don't think I was under curing, probably over curing. Mostly i believe i got product too much on my skin, while I was learning. Once i figured everything out i didn't get it on my skin anymore, but over time I'm sure it didn't help. I miss doing my nails though 😭😔

[@PaolaPonceNails]

So sorry to hear. Over curing is hardly an issue for anything other than some nail art techniques.

[@Beckanai]

@@PaolaPonceNails I don't think it was that, definitely from getting too much product on my skin. I'm afraid to try again, tho.

[@sheilamuller5847]

You can not over cure

[@christiangyrl3]

This was a very helpful video. Thank you. I recently learned of what an SDS was and I was even more shocked when I learned that they were not readily available by all gel companies . It made think what are these companies hiding.💭💭💭💭💭🧐🧐🧐🧐. Some gels don’t even provide a list of ingredients. 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

[@june2212]

Wow! I wish I had seen your video before I bought a gel kit myself. I’ve been doing my own gels with a Mylee gel kit for a couple months now & I didn’t cure my gel long enough and have ended up with a bad reaction on one finger. My toes seem to be fine and have not reacted, so I’m just hoping I can get my nails back to good health over a good few months and soon try again with a different brand and more education.

[@hai0.0]

more people should see this!!!!! thank you for making this video!

[@JanelleFoster1250]

Thank you for this. I started having some itching around my nails and was wondering what happened. I DIY, I suspect my issue is over exposing. Getting a liquid tape to use and get a gel polish remover so I can stop soaking in acetone. I'm also going use natural oils to moisture when I'm finished. I hope these steps help😊

[@evaabaybeeyzaguirre3885]

My nails also got itchy it was so weird & skin at the tip of my fingers started cracking and peeling

[@farahrazaque2000]

You are absolutely right about cuticle skin removal with e-file. I did that and i got bad itchy cuticles after my nails were done. When alcohol and other products touched that part it turned red and itchy.😢

[@laurenplavisch1464]

Great insight about your skin being open after nail prep! I recently removed acrylic manually using a very coarse file and really roughed up the skin around my nails. My nail beds have been kind of sore on and off since. I hope I didn’t overexpose 😢 I now have an e-file, which I tried on my toenails and it was counterintuitively much gentler. Thanks to you, I’m going to take training very seriously before I really start to use it!

[@BeInspiredByPrettyThings]

I did all of the above and have a terrible allergy now. The question now is, how to treat it?😊

[@crystald3655]

Keep the area clean. I use the reg blue dawn dish soap to wash my hands as that doesn't bother my already irritated skin. I use a good lotion with aloe and vitamin e on my hands after every wash and put a bit extra on at night and a pair of latex gloves to keep it on my skin so it really soaks in. This helps with the dryness and itching for me. Keep your hands clean and avoid using gel, nail polish etc and let your skin and nails rest and heal. It's going to take a while.

[@BeInspiredByPrettyThings]

@@crystald3655 thank your for all the info. I'm going to see a derm because it seems even isopropyl alcohol and acetone are causing major reactions. So I'm not longer positive it's HEMA. It could be something else I'm using like one of those two. Really sad, as I have thousands invested in my Gel nail supplies.

[@crystald3655]

@@BeInspiredByPrettyThings Acetone and alcohol made mine worse too for a bit now that it's mostly gone they don't bother my hands as much but will make my skin hella dry. You can get tips and use the gel on the tips wearing gloves for the application. Make sure that the gel is fully cured on the tips before you apply them with either sticky tabs for nails or your chosen nail glue and you should be ok.

[@jaydhenjorrdhenhiphoptwins1853]

I also developed a gel/acrylic allergy 😢 I’m so sad bc I liked going to do my nails even though the care and quality of these salons have deteriorated. But my cuticle began to feel like it’s burning the day after, my cuticles became black in color, skin began to peel, discoloration around the cuticle and very painful for days. So I stopped getting my nails done and took the nails off to let them breath. My hands got better but not without loosing my pointer finger nail and my my middle finger nail on my other hand half of it has lifted. I’m trying to save it. I’m currently on medication because on top of all this I’m going through I caught a fungus under both nails which is what it causing the lifting. But the chemicals the salon used started all of this.

[@L0veepanicc]

I did not realize how dangerous these at-home gel kits were. I got my first kit on amazon when I was 21 and I had no idea this was a risk. Now at 29 I still can't use gel polishes and this allergy will never go away now.

[@bunnybubson1665]

It's not just gel kits. It's any gel, polygel, and acrylic

[@L0veepanicc]

@@bunnybubson1665 I have little to no issue with acrylic nails or dip nails, but I just use regular polish

[@Selahhhhhhhhhhh]

I want to cry honestly. How sad. How sad to know this so long after the fact.

[@shempi81]

I love this video!!! Thank you for your knowledge! I'm so glad I did my homework when I started my nail journey. I committed myself to getting only high quality nail products from the beginning and I have you to thank for that ❤️

[@PaolaPonceNails]

And here’s the thing, some will say that what I use is expensive, and it can be… but gel products last sooo long. I understand that maybe not a small pot of base gel, but when you get the bigger size, you save soo much more.

[@niccoloreiss842]

I didn’t know any of this could cause allergies honestly. I went and immediately looked up the safety data sheets for the products I use to check cure times and wattage recommendations to make sure my lamp is more than strong enough. I’m all good in all categories, lamp, not removing too much skin, making sure not to wipe onto skin, all that stuff. I’m just really grateful that the way I learned from a tech friend built amazing habits for me. Plus I pick good products that mostly use oligomers instead of standard monomers (ingredients like bis-HEMA that are monomers encapsulated with a light molecular weight polymer) to increase safety as well.

[@84rinne_moo]

Oh which brands do you use if you don’t mind me asking!

[@RonDavidson-c3h]

Yes, please . What are the products you use?

[@Grannievore]

I developed a reaction to ibd hard gel products and if I had to guess why I’d say it was all my fault…diy use during pandemic. I tried really hard not to make all the mistakes but I know I did. I’ve grown out all the damage and just have polish on. I’m wondering what, if any, products are out there that I can safely try again? I’d even settle for just a clear coat of something I can use under regular polish as a soak off enhancement. I’m able to grow my own nails using just regular polish if I follow a very strict routine of three coats base coat with a fresh new coat every day, oil three times per day, gloves when cleaning, and essentially being hyper aware of how I use my hands. It’s a PAIN! I miss the strength of the gel!!!

[@wolfsf2012]

I’m commenting on this because I would like to know also

[@rachelbm5860]

saaaaaame

[@TeeTee-bz3pv]

I had the same experience but I haven't found a solution. I tried a full set with regular polish and still have a reaction, it wasn't as bad but I'm scared. Bare nails 😢

[@PaolaPonceNails]

So sad to read this :( I’m sorry. You have to use the curing lamp to whatever system you use. If you’re not willing to make this commitment up front do not use gel. To know exactly what you’re allergic too you have to go to a doctor/specialist/dermatologist. It could be HEMA it could be something else. I personally for my own use if I were sensitive would look into Ageha, Light Elegance, and Bio Sculpture.

[@Grannievore]

@@PaolaPonceNails thank you Paola. For now, I’m sticking to bare nails and polish with lots a TLC. I will go get all allergy test in the future though. I would definitely like to know what exactly I’m allergic to. I’m grateful my nails are at least healthy again, minus the damage done by the local salon when I got a regular manicure in January and the guy used a buffing block on my bare nails. After that is grown out, I should start seeing some length on my bare nails again. Can you tell me what you think of Mavala nail care products? I’ve been using the cuticle cream and it’s great but I haven’t tried anything else.

[@briannab4770]

I really wish I knew about this when I first started doing nails 2 years ago. I've been using cheap Chinese products, getting them on my skin and not doing any safety measures. Even though I'm showing no signs of any allergies, it truly upsets me to think that I may have sensitized my immune system to a potential allergy. I LOVE my long 2-inch nails so so much. I'm not exaggerating when I say that since I've learned about allergies recently, I literally sometimes wake up in a panic thinking about suddenly developing an allergy and not being able to do nails anymore. I know that might sound stupid, but it is my passion, and I don't want to live life without my beautiful long nails. I've been obsessively researching, and I'm not going to do a single set until I've fully revamped my nail routine and incorporated a scrupulous safety protocol. This is all upsetting and scary to me.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

For me, the best way to vet any company is to learn about them. The founder and their manufacturing. Ask or look for their story, why did they find the need to create their own line? What's wrong with the products out there? Where are your products manufactured? Do you manufacture them from scratch? If they are private labeled, do you third party test them? You'll find that ethical brands gladly share this with you (a lot of this information is already on their website). And sure, ask for Safety Data Sheets, but SADLY if the products you are using are from a questionable manufacturing source... Yep, you guessed it, the information on those sheets cannot be trusted.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Finding a good brand doesn't have to be taboo. Gels have been in the industry for over 30 years,. The majority of that time w/o controversy. Look into those more established gel brands, and give brands that have been private labeled by nail techs and influencers, time (years) to mature before buying.

[@evaabaybeeyzaguirre3885]

After doing my own gel x nails a few times I’ve become allergic nails were itchy & skin cracked. Going back to acrylic 😊

[@mitsuri1316]

OMGG!! More people should know about these tips! Ive been doing my nails at home for a few months and i use cheat materials from shein. Recently my cuticles have been getting itchy, red and puffy so I decided that ive developed a HEMA allergy. I bought some hema free nail products and put some press ons on with the hema free uv gel glue. The next morning the skin around my nails had these little blisters and my cuticles were red and painful to the touch. The uv lamp I use is also from shein. I got it for really cheap and I'm starting to think that thats the problem. Im curious, if i change my products and uv lamp to ones with better quality will my allergies go away?

[@Em-yt8cr]

These videos are going to be the best gift I get this year 🥰 I look forward to every drop!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Yay!

[@Izsrsj]

I do press-ons for clients without touching the gel and I wore gloves even though I get nail allergies every time 😢

[@tammyholt1798]

I became allergic to Apres gel x nails. (allegedly) that was the product I was using, maybe I was applying it wrong, maybe I did my nails too often, but this was the product I used.

[@shempi81]

I also only just got my Russian manicure drill bits last week, I have been DIY for 10 months now, and am very glad I only stuck to cuticle pushers and things like LeafGels cuticle remover oil so I can understand the fragility of my nail anatomy. Great video Paola ❤️

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Lovely! I’m so not against DIY, but simply be care-FULL and do your homework ❤️ And when possible financially and time-wise invest in education.

[@shempi81]

@@PaolaPonceNails Am definitely looking into nail tech schools :)

[@screamingmimi90]

Oh my goodness. I learned so much from this! I’ve seen many videos on allergies, but you gave me new information. Wow, Paola, thank you so much. Warm wishes from Minnesota!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

So glad it was helpful!

[@momofschnauzers]

Thanks so much for this informative video. Lite many, many others, I have developed allergies too which resulted in every one of my nail beds peeling off, some almost right to the cuticle. I am left with nasty nails to try to grow out (will take a long time). Anyway, I have resorted to press ons with sticky tabs and a touch of glue, with success. Are they as secure as using gel with curing lamp? ... NO but they are safe and I can still have decent looking nails and the self confidence that comes with them.

[@Ishtar2419]

I had a severe reaction to a gel. I was wearing soft gel nails and it virtually lifted my own nails off my nail beds. I had to take them all off and now my nails are ruined and disgusting. Growing them out and hope they will be ok😢

[@spreadgoodenergy6051]

Sending you ❤

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Unfortunately, at least in the research that I have done, in the professional community the outbreak of allergies has had to do with just a couple brands that became really big really fast. Particularly those whose core products are tinted builders in a bottle or full coverage tips. I am happy to say (again in my research, and I spent WEEKS looking into this for me and my community) that established brands who have at least 10 years in business have little if anything to do with this epidemic. When it comes to tinted builders in a bottle (seems like they're now being masked with a new name "rubber base") unless you know who manufactures them, they are being manufactured in China, and other questionable manufacturing parts of the world. And what seems to be happening is that a TON of monomer is used in the formula. Monomer is used for dilution and adhesion, we need it to make gel... but of course bad manufacturing facilities have abused it to impress the public with magical adhesion properties and self-leveling qualities. When it comes to full coverage tips, because the light has to penetrate through the plastic tip, this may become an issue if not using the brand's own curing unit (which has been calibrated with the system) or using a low quality unit. The issue gets further complicated if using tinted tips or tinted gel to adhere the tips. The DIY community is the absolute most vulnerable because of Amazon and influencer marketing on social media. For me, the best way to vet any company is to learn about them. The founder and their manufacturing. Ask or look for their story, why did they find the need to create their own line? What's wrong with the products out there? Where are your products manufactured? Do you manufacture them from scratch? If they are private labeled, do you third party test them? You'll find that ethical brands gladly share this with you (a lot of this information is already on their website). And sure, ask for Safety Data Sheets, but SADLY if the products you are using are from a questionable manufacturing source... Yep, you guessed it, the information on those sheets cannot be trusted. Unfortunately both PROs and DIYers ask very little questions before buying. For any DIYer reading, stick to regular nail polish, but if you insist on doing your own gels, in my opinion you have two options (unless you're allergic... if you are, stop w/gels): 1. Stick to using a name brand GEL POLISH system, i.e. like a Gelish or Lily Gel by Leafgel if you are in my niche. (and I do mean gel POLISH. Gel polish is not 100% gel, it has polish-type ingredients which are self-proven to be less allergenic.) 2. Seek out a mentor to educate you on 100% gel systems and safety precautions, especially if you will be considering a career in nails soon.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

To add insult to injury (no pun intended) the main nail channels here on KZbin have malign ONE monomer, HEMA... To the point of "reformulating" their products w/o them. When in reality the problem lies with irresponsible manufacturing in questionable manufacturing areas of the world who then private label to ambitious nail techs or influencers who don't do their due diligence to third party-test those formulas themselves... preferably from an unbiased non-brand specific chemical lab. (Yes, HEMA is abused in some of these formulations, but there are also other monomers.) All of this followed by improper curing. Due primarily to cheap curing units, or high quality ones whose curing strength has diminished after much use.

[@cloudcityinterim]

Beetles must be one of the brands… I have beetles products. 😭😭😭 and a lot I’ve bought off of Temu as well(so they’re cheap products).

[@XPrincess30]

Wonder what are some safe brand in the EU

[@DonnaRichens-d8m]

thank you so much. This was very helpful. I have never gone to a salon I just saw gel nail videos and liked them. Then after a few months I became allergic. I was very sad and confused and I didn't know why this had happened to me. I was wondering if poly gel would be better for me. What is the difference between them and do they have the same things that could make me be allergic again?

[@PaolaPonceNails]

This video I recently posted should help The 5 Biggest Tips For Safe Use Of Gel Nails | For DIYers and PROs kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHW4l2ahrM6faJI

[@dariamancini963]

I don’t do my nails very much, but I do have an allergy to hair dye which I used for decades. In the last few years I went to professionals. What’s astonishing is how professionals put hair color on people and then add heat I’m pretty sure that’s how my scalp got sensitized. I’m pretty sure it’s not intended to be applied with heat.

[@ladyinmauve]

SDS save lives. Lol. Seriously though, I used to order products from Aliexpress due to price. When I learned about ingredients and allergies I decided it was better to pay for quality products. So many of those companies do not have SDS available, and asking for them via the messaging system is painful.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

I’ve heard all of this before, scary.

[@jill8573]

My nail on the middle to end is pure white. I have been doing my gel nails since Covid .

[@darkelegance]

I was just going to get into gel nails but this very informative video has me thinking twice about it. What about chrome and aurora type nail powders? Do people get the same kind of allergies from those?

[@PaolaPonceNails]

You need gel nail pros to apply those, and they should be set properly in the gel nail products.

[@Fw_vanni]

Girlll the way imma follow you cause all of this made so much sense and I was enjoying the educational aspect of it also

[@PaolaPonceNails]

😂 thanks!

[@Purenailsbyveronica]

Hi Paola… how do you know when the lamp is no drying good, is it a way to test it?

[@NailGirlInMontana]

You can look inside the light when it's on and see if any lights are dim or completely out. I'd generally buy a new light every couple years, if you're only using it at home on yourself.

[@beatrixdynamite]

I wish i saw this before i gave myself an allergic reaction 😢

[@angieagentlesoul]

I think you should tell us abt the 3 companies you work with since you feel so stronly abt them. I tried to read the SDS on Kokoist and really was unable to interpret it. Same with Leafgel. Zillabeau says under 25%. Never found a sheet. You say watch out for over 15%. I need a hand here. Thankyou

[@CarolJoyable]

Oh my gosh! I would’ve given everything to have known what I learned from you, two years ago when I became a DIY due to the pandemic lock down! You have opened my eyes to what I should’ve known BEFORE my nails lifted three months ago (after I started using builder gel!); I would have exercised more care and be more cautious of the brands I bought. I am reading more and more on Facebook group pages for dippers of allergic reactions. It’s like an epidemic of nail issues with long time users now suffering allergies. Am I correct in understanding that I will never be able to use a builder gel again since I’ve already developed Onycholysis on all ten nails? They are healing well and SEEM to be attached to the nail bed for the new growth. Thank you for any bit of advise you can offer to me. As a subscriber now, I plan to tell others of your channel so they can correct their improper use of at-home self nail care.

[@PaolaPonceNails]

If it was me in your shoes, I simply would just proceed with a lot of care as to what I do with my nails.

[@Beinglilas]

Could you please recommend me what you did to let your nails grown normally again? What products/oils did you use? I have the same issue, and my nails are not growing normally at all, even tho i am using cuticle oil frequently.

[@misahrosira]

@@Beinglilas having the same issue emuaidmax speeds up the healing my nails are sooo much better now

[@DYE9]

I’ve been doing my own nails (gel-x) for over a year. And this past month I suddenly developed a reaction which caused blisters around my fingers, itchiness, dry peeling skin & what appears to be lifting on some nails. I was confused bc I was using the same products as I have before, with the only new thing being a new acetone & cuticle remover. After watching this, I’m guessing that it was definitely either overexposure principle &/or excessive unnecessary skin removal & dehydration. The question is, what products it could be bc like I said I never had an issue with any of them before :(

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Allergies can take days, weeks, months, or even years to form. If you're not using the corresponding curing unit to your nail brand/system this could be the problem.

[@dannythedruid]

Hey . So I'm getting the red puffy itchy . Etc well watching this . I really think im just cutting the skin back too much causing the potential over exposure.? Would you be able to give me a rough est or when or how often to cut the extra off. I use all gelish soft gel products , I looked on their products list but I'm not seeing high levels of what you advised in the video. Help 😊

[@DarkXenith]

Hi Paola, As someone recently developing an allergy (after 10 years of very sporadic use - only do my nails around 4x a year for special occasions lol) - Would you recommend using a barrier cream around hands / fingertips when applying gel polishes? I have done research and dropped HEMA polishes from those I have as I suspect this is the culprit in my case and will be using a confirmed, well respected HEMA free & 10 Free brand available in my country from now on and a new lamp just to rule out a fault with my existing - official lamp for the brand I use, but on the older side. After a break period to give my skin time to totally get over the reaction I had, that is! :)

[@Okandand]

Thank you, this was incredibly informative!!!

[@Manailedit]

I use a efile but I only use it on 3 and never over 5 or 6. And never on my natural nails.

[@christinaaa5094]

Hi! I want to start doing my own gel nails, I’ve done them twice before so far. I was just wondering what should I do if I do flood my cuticles with gel and get it on the sides of my finger? Do I wipe it off with acetone? Or would you recommend using a thin nail art type of brush to spread the gel to the sides of the nail instead after just putting gel nearer to the middle of the nail which might be tedious but I’m really worried about an allergy? Also I leave a long time in between like at least two months (I don’t have much time I’m at school), so if I were to occasionally get gel on the skin and wipe it away would chances of an allergy be low as you mentioned going nails every two weeks. Thanks for the video

[@debbiemiller589]

Thank you for all the info! Great video.

[@TabataPadronMurrieta]

Sooo i cant use my polygel anymore bc i gained this allegoric reaction?

[@jadepriceholmes681]

Have learnt so much from this video!

[@angiea8022]

Are we talking about "Acrylic" product ?? Thank you! This was very helpful!

[@kz7115]

The logic would apply to acrylic as well. Acrylic, gel, shellac…It’s all the same stuff, just different ratios of chemicals leading to different hardness and method of application.

[@BullsEyeRuby]

So I removed a hang mail and it’s a bit swollen. Should I wait until it’s not swollen anymore to do my nails? I was going to do gel x

[@PaolaPonceNails]

If it’s too open probably. If I have to work on my nails but there is a cut I personally like to use Styptic Liquid? I may be misspelling, but it feels to like liquid bandage.

[@laylaalnow2882]

After I did my sister's nail my fingers started swelling and itching,, I was suffering for few days and now my fingertips became numb and dark color😢 I'm so scared I don't know what to do 😢

[@SarahMarjorie]

I got a lamp from Modelones. Can I cure it for extra long if I'm afraid it isn't a reliable enough lamp?

[@jasminaleon2771]

Hay, great video thank you. Please tell me wich gloves are safe to use, because I hearad that dust can go trught gloves??? Thank you so much :)

[@PaolaPonceNails]

I had not heard that. The gloves I use are from Top Quality Gloves.

[@jasminaleon2771]

@@PaolaPonceNails Thank you, I ve just asked because some grils that had alergies haven't be able to continue with their job, a they claimed that the gloves did' t give them protektion from prodakts.

[@caitlinlong2374]

Nitrile gloves give the best protection

[@justgo298]

This is a fantastic video !!!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

I hope it is helpful to many 🙌

[@popaki9484]

I just had an allergic reaction the next day but more of a reaction 2 days later. I used a combination of products, mainly kokoist and melodysusie polygel. Do you know if Kokoist would cause this reaction? I got some on my face, maybe I touched my face during the process. My main question is, once the nails are cured, can they continue to cause allergic reactions? Trying to figure out if they should be removed. Thank you so much!

[@vienleeonknox]

I had an allergic reaction can i still use gel nails, i really love having nail extensions but I’m allergic to it😢

[@shamsia1709]

I got allergic reaction after doing my own nail a few time and I have tried changing products that I use but I still had the same reaction. I think the cause is probably the curing unit. Iuse different gel polish and it says any UV lamp or UV lead it fine Not sure what to do

[@Kizzkaah]

I did my own nails and now I´m allergic to plastic as well as hema... I can´t even wear plastic earrings, because I´ll break out from wearing them too long. I miss beautiful long nails...

[@Tylerwithfire]

When you speak about using the lamp that matches your gel system, do you mean matching the brand? Or looking for a specific wattage?

[@PaolaPonceNails]

The gel lamp is calibrated to work with its own gels. Just buying a random lamp won’t do.

[@thetruth8053]

i was polygel nails and my fingers started to itch like crazy.never again anything artificial on the nail

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Where are your products from?

[@Treubeautytravels]

I use to do my nails and had to stop because of an allergic reaction and I know it’s the gel, my hands become itchy and swollen and I have been doing my nails for years 😢

[@Mythia_J]

Thank you

[@theMirandaRenae]

What advice would you give for doing your own nails, though, since you can't wear gloves?

[@stevieallen1747]

Can someone help? I've done my own nails at home for years with no problems at all. The last two times of doing them, I've woken up the next day with painful finger tips (not all nails) red and then peel slightly within days. Today the same thing but I have a small blister and skin feels hard on the end of my finger tip. I use mylee gel, have done for some time so I don't know what has changed? So I've tried to look for hypoallergenic gel but they still seem to contain the same or some of the same ingredients. Can someone please tell me a good hypo gel to use with no bad ingredients

[@jaz8426]

how do we fix it? :( i've been struggling with contact dermatitis & i believe it's from the beetles gel x dupe. i've been sticking to the sticky tabs because nail glue with press ons gives me a slight reaction :( what do i do

[@crystald3655]

Take a break from all nail products, use a good quality lotion that doesn't irritate your skin. Keep your hands or other affected area clean as well and moisturized and give it time. See a doctor if needed.

[@NailGirlInMontana]

I found out I'm allergic to 3 different nail chemicals. But they are in many things including: monomer, primer, gel polish, hard gel, super glue, and even the glue pads for press on nails.😢

[@leehelpfulvideos]

This was helpful

[@dreamoffreedom4062]

So this only happens when applying it directly onto the natural nail right? Say i apply it on a plastic nail and not get any drop of it on the skin then the allergy wouldn't happen at all?

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Gels need to be properly cured. Bottom line. If you put it on fake nails, you can then scratch and itch w/ uncured gels…

[@kyrameiii]

I got gel nails and my skin on my fingers are pealing, it's also so itchy and red😞

[@evaabaybeeyzaguirre3885]

Exactly what happened to me I do my own gel x & after a while my nails were itchy & peeling

[@yanapritchard4797]

Ive been doing my full gel nails for years. It's only recently I became allergy effected with itchy, red and swollen fingers. Admitted I started to remove cuticles as seen on utube. I also think my lamp was loosing power. Does this happen after 1yr of use? 😢😮

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Yes, you can become allergic weeks/months/years later, especially with a low power/functioning unit.

[@Brittlejoints]

so helpful! thank you!!

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Yes, thank you for watching!

[@leehelpfulvideos]

Who is the scientist? Plz

[@robinmfruthrealtorexprealt7983]

The very last time I had gel nails done literally destroyed all the nail beds on all of my fingers. All have recovered except for 1. My thumb on left hand. Chipped and peeled while growing back, for the last year. I hope changes are made to gel in some way that it doesn't continue to cause these issues for myself and others. As of right now I will never use gel again until that happens. I certainly hope no one else has had this experience like had.

[@sherylriehl1334]

Is Gel Moment a good safe company?

[@PaolaPonceNails]

This video I made should help, kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHW4l2ahrM6faJIsi=XnrZkfLZnpC9lU80

[@jessicapace9158]

What about gel products that don't contain HEMA but contain acrylate copolymer? Is it just as dangerous as HEMA or is it not as easily absorbed as HEMA? I haven't been able to find anything about this online :(

[@PaolaPonceNails]

I BELIEVE that is acrylic powder mixed into the gel... I thought I heard some chemist say that, but do give that statement a Google.

[@peachy4713]

I am so scared right now, i do not get gel nails done frequently and I went to a new gel x nail tech Friday. I was completely fine until Monday, I took a nap and woke up with a swollen red pinky finger. It hurts and i am freaking out. How do I remove my nail at home??? I do not want to use acetone. Its only my pinky that is having this issue. The rest of my fingers are fine… i have never done this issue

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Sometimes, a sore finger happens to me a few days later after doing my nails, if I file the side of my nail too much, or pulled a hangnail. You will have to use acetone to remove. I should have a video on removal here in the channel.

[@MD-cs7jd]

The sad part is that well formulated polishes tend to be harder to obtain for non licensed people so it’s setting people up to fail

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Nail polish, press-ons, or the milder "gel polish" options (i.e. Gelish or those sold at Sally's) are the options for DIYers who just want to watch quick tutorials and do their own nails. Ideally if you would like a set of gel nails w/ pro products and application... supporting your local nail tech is the way to go. If the options above are not feasible, taking online education to buy and apply safely is a good alternative in my opinion. Not all countries require a license to be pro. My Master Gel Nails Course, teaches you how to identify and apply premium soft gel products. paolaponcenails.com & the brands I use do not require license because they are offered worldwide, and the world in general does not require a license to do nails. In my opinion, U.S. nail programs wont help you stay allergy free, proper training in the products you are interested in and being able to ask questions directly to your educator will. 💐

[@mumster951]

I switched powders & bought from a different store & got an allergic reaction:/

[@TheWay2yummy]

OMG!!! I have now developed allergic reactions all of sudden. I have been wearing nails since I was 16 and NEVER had this issue! I have been doing my own nails for 6 years, no issues and all of sudden they get a little puffy, cuticles look terrible, and dear god they itch. I thought it was the products, brushes etc. I only do my nails every 3-4 weeks. I did buy a new LED lamp, and it to being cured all the way never crossed my mind. Then I looked at the liquid acrylic and it says EMA Monomer. I switched that and still itchy. I want in July and got my nails done ZERO issues. It’s definitely something I am using or doing at home please help me.

[@PayneWaterStudio]

How does someone test if your lamp is curing gel fully? I’ve heard of placing it on parchment paper and the lamp to see if it’s cured. I just got gifted a Modelones builder gel with de-hydrated and primer, le mini macaron small lamp and a bunch of gel polish (le mini macaron). I was so uneducated I did a thin layer of builder gel then used the mini lamp (2 min per nail) to cure it. Then I used alcohol to get rid of the stick layer. I thought wow it cured cause it’s hard! But I did research and found a lamp has to be between 24-36 watts to cure builder gel! My mini lamp is 5W!!! I had them in for 2 days but oddly enough my builder gel overlay was lifting and came off in a solid sheet off my nail. Luckily no damage to my nails or skin (I do manual prep and do really good prep on the nail bed and skin due to being a regular polish lover). I just ordered a SUNUV lamp on Amazon but I’m scared to try it again.

[@DYE9]

Is one able to get an allergic reaction even with gel x tips given that the gel polish is going on the gel x tips? I’m still trying to figure out what product I used is the culprit….I used OKM bond, primer, extend gel, and the gel polish/top coat I used was a brand named K-gel

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Often the culprit is the curing unit. Which one do you use?

[@corteltube]

I always went to a high end reputable salon that ‘supposedly’ took all precautions. I made sure to ask the questions to avoid allergy issues…well, I got a nasty reaction after about a year of having my nails done. I am not allergy prone, never had one to my knowledge…not even seasonal. So my guess is most people will get allergies? Hearing more and more about them. A friend just had the same reaction. I am wondering why there are not yet law suits. I think this is too scientific for the average person who is wanting this service to protect themselves from. It is truly Russian roulette. They can tell you they use the best products and there is no way for the customer to know. Doing this at home is a whole other story.

[@kyrameiii]

I had a reaction 3 days ago my fingers swelled and were leaking pus they turned yellow and the skin peeled off, I took antibiotics/anti allergy it went down but my hand is dry and bruised

[@kyrameiii]

I can’t use Acrylics and gel but I love nails 😩

[@trishstewart121]

❤

[@419savannah]

i have to know do you wear makeup? if so it looks FLAWLESS . you have literally no dark circles under your eyes

[@polished_and_ready]

Yay! First comment 😊

[@PaolaPonceNails]

Yes you are!

[@afrodykeeism]

By intensity do you mean wattage or wavelength?