Itchy fingers from gel nails are a frustrating experience to deal with. You should be soaking in your flawless, glam new manicure after spending all your time and money at the salon. But you’re sitting there in agony with restless, itchy hands instead.
Why are my fingers itchy after gel nails, you think. There are several possible causes, all of which lead to the same conclusion - your body feels that something is wrong. Traditional gel manicures in a salon are fraught with risk, including allergenic ingredients, acetone, and other harmful chemicals, incomplete curing, and physical irritation.
The good news is that you don’t have to give up gel nails entirely. We’ll teach you how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails.
The best way to do so is by switching to our Vegan, HEMA-free, and 14-free gel nail kits. Polish Pops is the #1 choice for thousands of beauty lovers worldwide. We created a healthy adhesive alternative to gel nails, replacing salon fumes and harsh chemicals with a fast manicure you can do at home in just minutes.
You can also find non-gel nail wraps in our store, which deliver similar longevity to salon manicures without the risk of itchy reactions.
Why Are My Fingers Itchy After Gel Nails?
We’ll need to cover some basics before we explore how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails. Let’s start with the root causes.
Why are my fingers itchy after gel nails? Potential reasons range from direct allergic reactions to improper application or removal. Note that there can be multiple causes of itchy fingers from gel nails, so consider all of your options as you attempt to fix the issue.
Reaction to Gel Ingredients
Why are my fingers itchy after gel nails? Once you read the ingredient lists on many brands of gel nail polish, the picture becomes clear. Most major brands use irritants like methacrylates, including the dreaded HEMA, along with formaldehyde, phthalates, and parabens.
All of these ingredients cause intense reactions at a microscopic level. They evade your body’s natural defenses and interfere with your immune system. This creates a spike, which causes itchy fingers from gel nails.
These ingredients have a cumulative effect. As you expose your skin to them, you’ll experience harsher reactions each time. This is why you might be completely fine the first few times you get a gel manicure, but after a couple of months, even a brief whiff can trigger a reaction.
Harsh Chemicals During Removal
Learning how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails isn’t just about the polish itself. Removing gel polish from your nails can be equally as harmful. The long-term durability of gel nail polish has its upsides - everyone loves chip-free nails - but comes at the cost of complicating the removal process.
Most salons use acetone nail polish remover for gel nails. They soak or cover your nails in acetone for 10 to 20 minutes and sometimes longer if you’re also getting a pedicure. Acetone removes more than just your nail polish - it also strips away your skin’s natural defenses and oils.
This creates dry and tight skin that is more susceptible to chemical reactions.
Improper Curing of Gel Polish
Curing is another area of focus for learning how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails. Gel manicures require UV or LED light to seal in the molecular bond.
The curing process is sensitive to disruption. You are more likely to experience irritation if the gel molecules don’t bond properly. The uncured gel will inevitably leak into your skin and cause reactions.
Skin Irritation From Over-Filing or Buffing
There are other potential causes for itchy fingers from gel nails that aren’t directly related to polish. The manicure process can be rough on your hands if you (or your salon tech) aren’t careful.
Aggressive over-filing can sand down your nail bed, removing protective layers and nicking your skin. This makes it easier for chemicals to penetrate and irritate your nails, and delays the healing process.
How to Stop Itchy Fingers After Gel Nails: Home Remedies to Try
The good news is that relief is possible. Let’s explore how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails so you can put an end to your agony.
Remove the Gel Safely and Quickly
The most important lesson when learning how to stop itchy fingers after gel nails is to remove the polish ASAP. Leaving the polish on for long durations will only amplify the reactions and increase the risk of picking or scratching.
We recommend avoiding acetone where possible, but in most cases, it will be necessary for a salon manicure. Place cotton pads soaked in remover around your nails and cover them in foil for 10 to 20 minutes.
Soothe With a Cold Compress
Cold compresses address the itchy skin directly. They can reduce swelling and itchiness. You can use an ice pack or make your own with ice cubes and a clean cloth.
Place the cold compress on your fingertips for 5 to 10 minutes. You want to alternate hands and give them room to cool down between intervals. Make sure not to apply the cold compress directly to your skin to avoid injury.
Apply a Fragrance-Free Moisturizer or Healing Ointment
Itchy nails are a sign that your skin is vulnerable. A moisturizer or ointment will deliver healthy ingredients like aloe vera, vitamins, and ceramides to repair the damage.
Use your lotion several times a day to ensure your hands are hydrated rather than tight or dry.
Use an Over-the-Counter Hydrocortisone Cream
Hydrocortisone and other steroid creams are a viable option, especially if the previous steps didn’t help. A 1% cream reduces inflammation and heals irritation.
However, you want to be cautious with how much you use it. Follow the instructions thoroughly or consult a dermatologist for more information. Cortisone is a short-term solution, so you may need a stronger intervention if the itching persists after a few days of treatment.
Avoid Scratching or Picking the Area
Itchy nails can drive you crazy. Our instinct is to scratch an itch, but that could delay healing. Scratching and picking will further break down your skin’s protective layers and add more physical trauma.
We recommend applying bandages or wearing gloves if you are struggling to avoid itching.
Preventing Itchy Fingers From Gel Nails Going Forward
Once you get past the itching, you’re probably ready to say never again.
So, how do you stop your nails from itching in the future? Do you have to give up gel manicures entirely?
Switch to a Gentler Manicure Option
Gel manicures get plenty of hype, and for good reason. They don’t chip, look great, and are relatively simple to apply, even at home. But itchy nails and fingers can throw a wrench in your plans.
Let’s consider the alternatives to gel manicures. There are acrylics, dip, standard manicures, and stopping nail polish entirely.
When you compare acrylic vs gel nails, you’ll realize very quickly that they aren’t a viable replacement. Acrylic nails are more notorious for irritation and complications. Plus, they are more expensive and take up more of your time in the salon.
Dip nails involve powder. You place your nails in the powder and receive a durable result that won’t chip. But the gel vs dip nails comparison isn’t much better. Dip nails are just as likely to irritate, still require acetone for removal, and have fewer color options than gel.
Standard manicures can be a good choice if you have a specific allergy to gel nail polish. However, often allergies relate to ingredients. A gel nail polish brand with HEMA will be just as itchy as a traditional nail polish with the same ingredient. You might trade gel nails for standard nail polish only to encounter the same issue.
Realistically, giving up nail polish entirely is not a viable option. You deserve to have glam nails that make you feel confident and stylish.
So where does that leave you? There’s one solution that delivers the durability and style of gel manicures that is also safe to use: Polish Pops!
What Makes Polish Pops the #1 Choice?
Your search for a healthy alternative to acrylic nails, gel nails, and dip powder is over. Polish Pops lets you achieve a flawless manicure from the comfort of your home, without any harmful chemicals.
We have adhesives for traditional and gel nails in over 200+ styles, including on-trend nail art designs. It’s effortless to use our nail polish wraps, just peel them from the sheet, press them onto your nails, optionally cure them under UV light, and admire the final results!
We created our product specifically with health and eco-friendliness in mind. We use Vegan ingredients that are cruelty-free, HEMA-free, and 14-free. That means your nails won’t be subject to formaldehyde, phthalates, or parabens.
You also get to skip acetone, as you can remove our wraps with just a cuticle oil and stick. We offer free shipping on orders over $35, a comprehensive rewards program, and friendly customer support.
Tips on Application and Removal
Using Polish Pops is the easiest way to achieve a salon-quality manicure at home. There’s a simple 4-step process that takes 15 minutes or less.
You start with our sheet of nail polish wraps or gel nail strips. Pick a size for each nail - the sheets have 30 adhesives to accommodate each finger.
Then peel the wrap off and apply it to your nails. You can trim any excess with a pair of nail scissors. Our gel nail strips need curing, while our traditional nail polish wraps require no further steps!
Removal is just as easy. You soak your nails in cuticle oil and use a stick to shimmy off the wrap. And yes, that means no acetone! Our nail wraps last 7-10 days, while our gel nail strips last 14 days or more.
If You Do want to Keep Getting Gel Nails, Ask for Hypoallergenic Gel Products
Gel nail polish can widely vary. Hypoallergenic gel nail polish might be a solution for your itchy fingers. Products without HEMA, formaldehyde, and phthalates are a better option, which is why we avoid them in our gel nail strips.
Hypoallergenic gel nail polish is also a nice way to test for allergies, since you can confirm or rule out HEMA and other harmful chemicals as the cause.
Confirm Proper Curing Times and Techniques
Proper curing is a must. Ensure that your gel manicure cures fully with a suitable UV or LED lamp. There can be a massive difference in just a few seconds of curing compared to an incomplete process.
Limit the Frequency of Gel Applications
Your nails need room and time to breathe. Constantly applying new gel polish and acetone remover will weaken your nail bed and irritate your fingers. Even if you don’t want to give up the salon experience, we still recommend mixing in periods of no polish or at-home nail polish strips to give your nails a break without sacrificing style.
Wear Protective Barriers During Application
Protecting your skin during a gel manicure can mitigate itching. Using petroleum jelly or a barrier will prevent the allergenic compounds from reaching your skin. You can also invest in fingerless UV-blocking gloves to protect your hands during the curing process.
Final Words on How to Stop Itchy Fingers After Gel Nails
Glossy, salon-quality nails are worth all the effort they take. However, no one wants to deal with the downside of itchy fingers and skin irritation.
But the reality is that most gel nail polish brands are full of irritants and allergens. HEMA and other methacrylates, formaldehyde, and phthalates are just some of the harmful ingredients that directly cause itchy reactions.
The good news is that there’s a way to get those glam nails without the health risks. Polish Pops gel nail strips and traditional polish wraps are what you need!
They are Vegan, HEMA-free, cruelty-free, and 14-free, letting your skin breathe easily. Applying them is simple: just peel, press, cure, then admire! The 15-minute process is doable at home or on the go, giving you access to 200+ styles.
You remove them just as easily, using a cuticle stick and oil rather than irritating acetone. Browse our store now to find your dream style and make a healthy choice for your nails!
