This summer, the European Union took a dramatic stance against certain gel nail polish brands, banning products containing a chemical known as TPO after research linked it to fertility issues in lab rats.
While TPO is still legal in gel nail polish in the U.S., health officials are examining the broader implications of gel polish use on both nail health and overall wellness.
Dermatologist Dr. Karen Heidelberg explains that smothering your fingernails for weeks can hide growing problems, including infections, itchy, swollen cuticles and nails lifting due to allergic reactions to the polish.
Due to the ban, several nail polish brands are reformulating their products, and there are several options without TPO in the U.S. But Dr. Heidelberg said the lab results in rats are not a big concern.
"They extrapolated that data into human beings and took it off of the market," said Heidelberg. "That's not exactly how we do things in the United States and the likelihood of having that level of exposure to have problems painting something on your nails as opposed to ingesting it, you know, it's not that big of a deal."
As a dermatologist, Heidelberg recommends keeping things basic, and said that she thinks natural everyday manicures are better.
"If you are gelled on gel, understand the long-term effects and make your own decision," said Heidelberg.
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