Gel manicures can make you feel flawless. They don’t chip, last for weeks, and give you those shiny, Instagram-ready nails you’re looking for. That makes it all the more disappointing when you start to develop harsh reactions or allergies to gel nail polish.
You sit there, frustrated at the salon, getting your sparkling new manicure removed. You think to yourself; Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden?
Whether you developed gel nail allergies after your very first time or you’re noticing swelling, itchy skin, and blisters after months of no issues, understanding the problem entirely can bring a sense of relief and empowerment.
Traditional gel manicures in a salon have a host of irritating chemicals like formaldehyde, parabens, and phthalates that can cause skin irritation. What you think is an allergy may be a chemical reaction.
We’ll go over all the possible causes of gel nail allergies to help you determine what’s going on. You may find your allergies go away when you switch to 14-free and HEMA-free nail products.
The Polish Pops nail kit is just what you’re looking for. We created Vegan, cruelty-free, and HEMA-free nail adhesives and wraps. We sell safe gel nail wraps that won’t irritate your skin with harsh chemicals. You also don’t have to spend time in the salon breathing in fumes - instead, you can give yourself a manicure at home in just minutes.
You can also choose our traditional polish kit to avoid reactions to gel polish. They feature similar clean ingredients and give you long-lasting shine that looks and feels like a salon manicure.
You deserve to have flawless, shiny nails and to be healthy - so try Polish Pops today!
Signs and Symptoms of Gel Nail Allergies
Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden? It’s possible that your spontaneous gel nail allergies had several warning signs.
Gel nail polish with HEMA chemicals and other additives like formaldehyde and phthalates can cause itchy skin, tenderness, rashes, and weakened nail plates. These signs can be hard to notice under that shiny, flawless manicure, until it’s too late.
Red, Itchy Skin Around the Nails
Here’s the truth. That constant, itchy, red skin around your nails days after you leave the salon isn’t natural. It’s one of the first signs that you have allergies to gel nail polish or the additive ingredients within.
Traditional gel nail polish has compounds like phthalates and parabens. If they touch your skin, it will cause inflammation. The more you get gel manicures with these ingredients, the more likely you are to experience these reactions.
Note that these aren’t necessarily an exclusive sign of gel nail allergies. Other manicure styles, like acrylic vs gel nails or gel vs dip nails, may also cause this reaction if you aren’t using a 14-free polish.
Swelling or Tenderness at the Fingertips
Puffy fingers after a manicure are another potential sign of allergies to gel nail polish. Swelling is a key sign of irritation or even infection as your immune system reacts to a harsh chemical. Over time, this can overwhelm your immune system, leading to more severe reactions.
While swelling and tenderness are possible symptoms of gel nail allergies, they can also be a warning sign of an infection. Visit a doctor if you notice other symptoms, such as a fever.
Blistering or Rash on Hands or Fingers
Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden? Sometimes the warning sign you missed was a series of blisters and rashes. These are a natural progression from red or swollen skin. It means the chemicals in gel nail polish have penetrated the skin, causing your immune system to respond.
You should visit a medical professional to rule out other possible causes beyond allergies to gel nail polish if you see a blister or rash.
Nail Plate Lifting or Weakening
Your nail bed lifting off your finger is a significant symptom. Gel nail allergies can cause your natural nails to become brittle and thin. This problem gets amplified by the aggressive acetone removal process in most salons.
This isn’t always due to gel nail allergies - sometimes it’s exclusively from the acetone. But you need to address this issue before your nails completely peel off. Otherwise, you’re due for months of recovery.
Why Am I Allergic to Gel Nails All of a Sudden?
Maybe you’ve been getting gel manicures at a salon for months before you start seeing issues. You begin to wonder; Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden?
The answer can be as simple as allergies taking time to manifest fully. However, other aspects of the gel manicure process in a salon can also cause reactions similar to allergies to gel nails.
Therefore, you must rule out other potential causes with the help of a medical professional.
Repeated Exposure to Allergenic Ingredients Over Time
Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden? Sometimes, that’s just how allergies work. Repeated exposure to an allergen can be ‘dormant’ for weeks, months, or even years. But suddenly, those ingredients can train your immune system to register them as threats.
This causes your body to overreact, causing swelling, itchiness, blisters, and worse.
Improper UV Curing Leaves Behind Uncured Chemicals
You have to cure gel nail polish under UV (or sometimes LED) light. This sets the nail polish on your nails and lets you enjoy that smudge-free manicure.
However, any disruption to the curing process can cause issues. Uncured chemicals can remain on your nails and spill onto your skin. They will then inevitably penetrate your skin barrier, causing allergic reactions.
Skin Contact With Gel Products During Application
Similar to UV curing issues, any skin contact during your manicure can cause irritation and allergic reactions. A brief accidental brush onto your cuticle or a drop of gel polish on your skin can trigger irritation.
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to avoid this during a salon manicure. And once you start experiencing reactions to gel nail polish ingredients, it creates a vicious cycle that only amplifies the issues.
Low-Quality or Unregulated Gel Nail Formulas
Why am I allergic to gel nails all of a sudden? It could be because you switched nail polish brands. Cheap and unregulated gel nail polish brands use higher amounts of allergenic chemicals. Switching from a 14-free, HEMA-free polish to an inferior option can cause harmful reactions on its own.
Harsh Removal Methods That Damage the Skin Barrier
Acetone is a harsh chemical that can strip away your nail bed and damage the surrounding skin. Yet it’s used to remove gel nails in most salon settings.
Harsh removal methods can take the skin barrier with them. It’s like opening up the protective walls and allowing irritants to enter your skin. That will inevitably cause more allergic reactions to occur.
Changes in Your Body’s Immune Response Over Time
Your immune system is constantly evolving to respond to threats. Stress, hormones, illness, aging, and changes in diet can throw off the careful balance your body has.
This can cause gel nails to cause harsh allergic reactions suddenly. Your body can wake up one day and decide dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, acetone, and parabens are a no-go.
Your body will then have allergic reactions in the future whenever you encounter those chemicals.
Is There a Gentler Way to Get a Beautiful Manicure?
There are many possible causes of gel allergies. Some of them may not be an allergy to gel polish itself, but rather any number of HEMA chemicals. We encourage you to visit a medical professional to rule out any other potential problems.
However, an allergic reaction to one brand of gel nail polish may not necessarily mean you will react the same way to all of them. You can always try a different brand that is 14-free and HEMA-free ot see if the allergies are to formaldehyde, acetone, or phthalates instead.
But there are also several healthy alternatives to gel nails if you have an allergy. We encourage you to research your options and make the right decision with the help of a medical professional.
Try Semi-Cured Gel Nail Wraps With Cleaner Ingredients!
Beautiful manicures without the red, itchy skin are possible with our help! Polish Pops has the healthiest alternatives to gel nails. Our gel nail wraps are 14-free, HEMA-free, cruelty-free, and Vegan. Our ingredients list is just a few lines long, including gentle polyacrylic acid and glycerine propoxylate.
You get to avoid all of the pitfalls of traditional salon gel manicures. You just pull the gel adhesive, press it onto your nails, and cure it under UV. There’s no risk of skin-to-skin contact when you apply them correctly.
Plus, it’s easy to remove them without acetone. You can simply gently remove it with a cuticle stick and gentle oil.
We have over 100 styles, including the latest nail art trends, seasonal designs, and timeless classics. We constantly expand our selection to keep things fresh and exciting.
We also sell traditional nail polish wraps that bypass the need for gel polish entirely. They last almost as long as our gel wraps, and deliver the same sparkling salon-quality manicure.
You can use our gel or traditional nail strips from the comfort of your home. No more driving to the salon, getting into awkward small talk, and waiting half an hour for your nails to dry.
Just peel, press, and cure, and you’ll have your manicure in minutes!
How Do You Use Our Nail Strips?
Using our nail wraps is easy. You can achieve the same results you find in the salon without painstakingly trying to avoid smudging your designs.
You can start by going through your traditional nail routine. Trim and file your nails, push back your cuticles, and even soak them for a bit to treat yourself. Of course, you can skip this step if you’re in a rush - that’s the convenience of Polish Pops!
You’ll then select an adhesive for each of your nails. Peel them off the sheet, then press firmly onto your nail bed. You can place the leftover adhesives in an airtight bag and preserve them for next time.
Trim the excess adhesive to fit your nail. You can then file them down for a smooth fit. Cure the wraps under UV light if you’re using gel, or skip that step entirely if you’re using traditional strips. The entire process should take 15 minutes or less, perfect for a quick touch-up on the go!
Tips on Safe Removal
Polish Pops are just as easy to remove as they are to put on. You only need two tools - a cuticle stick and some gentle cuticle oil. Soak your hands in the oil or apply it directly to the nail bed. Then shimmy the stick between the cuticle and the wrap until it lifts off.
That’s it - no harsh acetone required.
Closing Thoughts on the Causes of Allergies to Gel Nail Polish
Gel nails can deliver jaw-dropping manicures that become the talk of social media. Many influencers even consider them a healthy alternative to acrylic nails. But when they start causing allergic reactions, you’ll be left wondering how you can replicate those same excellent results.
Allergies to gel nail polish can cause several concerning symptoms. Swelling, rashes, itchy skin, or your nail lifting off the bed entirely. But sometimes these signs are due to a few specific ingredients.
Formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and HEMA chemicals can be the biggest culprits. We encourage you to consult with a medical professional to verify the direct cause of your allergies.
However, switching to a 14-free, HEMA-free, and cruelty-free nail polish could be the change you need. You can still achieve those shiny salon-quality manicures without the itchy side effects.
Polish Pops nail wraps are the healthiest alternative. We avoid harsh ingredients to deliver a safe, Vegan, and 14-free manicure. Plus, our products are easy to use and don’t require acetone for removal.
Whether you opt for our traditional nail polish strips or try our healthy gel nail wraps, we’ve got you covered. Visit our store today to experience the difference!
