Nail Care: The Dangers of Nail Polish

You might love seeing your nails in different colors every so often but did you know that the fumes from most nail polishes are actually toxic? Many experts believe that nail polish is the most or one of the most toxic cosmetics. Poisonous substances are included in polishes including formaldehyde, phthalates, acetone, toluene and benzophenones. Pthalates are used in polishes as they are solvents for colors. The bad news is they are actually toxic to the nervous system. To keep the colors of polishes in liquid form, acetone and toluene are used. The problem with these substances is that they evaporate quickly therefore filling the air with toxic fumes. When you inhale these fumes, your respiratory system is put at risk. Benzophenones are believed to have the potential to cause cancer. Many are still not aware of the dangers of nail polish. There are still quite a lot of us who apply polishes on our nails thrice a week. Teens especially have this habit of changing nail polishes almost every other day. If you have teens who frequently apply polish, let them know about the dangers of this habit. More on the Toxic Trio Most nail polishes contain the “toxic trio”. The “toxic trio” is the nickname given to the three toxic ingredients in polishes. These toxic ingredients, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde are known to cause serious side effects.

• DBP or Dibutyl phthalate – This toxin hails from the group of phthalates. Phthalates are compounds that have been known to disrupt the function of the endocrine system. They can also change hormone levels or cause a disruption to the way the body responses to hormones. DBP has been known to cause birth defects. This is a disturbing fact since most women including expecting mothers consider going to the nail salon to have their nails polished as a pampering. DBP has been linked to neurological and developmental issues in fetuses.
• Toluene – Toluene is also a neurotoxin meaning it is a substance that primarily attacks the central nervous system causing abnormalities in behavior, emotions and body movements. Toluene can harm the nervous system of anyone regardless of age but it can go through the placenta and affect the fetus causing developmental defects. It is also known to cause irritation in the upper respiratory system.
• Formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is already known to cause cancer. It is surprising how many people still do not care much about the fact that most nail polishes contain formaldehyde. It is also known to cause respiratory issues and also makes asthma and other breathing issues worse.

The best way to avoid suffering from the ill effects of nail polish is to not use them at all. Going all-natural on your nails, means that you won’t be putting your health at risk. If you can’t quit the polish just yet, you should choose polishes that do not contain the toxic trio. However, you should be wary that a study just recently found out that many polishes bearing a toxic free label still contained these toxic substances. Keep asking your friends to like our Facebook page and we’ll keep posting more health and beauty tips!