Formaldehyde in nail polish: what is it and why is it dangerous?

Manicure and pedicure varnish is a multicomponent material. Depending on the manufacturer, it can include ingredients that are neutral to health or that are hazardous. The latter include formaldehyde. Let's figure out what this component is, and how it affects health.

Women have used decorative coatings for nails since ancient times. Previously, they were available only for noble people, but over time, varnishes were invented, which are used by most women. Over the course of several decades, the composition of the varnish has changed.

Today, regardless of the manufacturer, such funds have a similar composition. They contain the following groups of substances.

• Plasticizing components. Responsible for the elasticity of the varnish when it is distributed over the nail plate. Substances belonging to this group impart strength to the coating.
• Solvents. These are the ingredients that allow the varnish to retain its liquid consistency for a certain period of time. Most manufacturers use alcohol components as solvents.
• Pigmented particles. They are substances on which the color palette of the coating depends.
• Polymer compounds. Components whose function is to give a gloss to the finished coating.

The latter group may include formaldehyde compounds.

There is controversy on various sites as to whether formaldehyde in nail polish is hazardous to health or not. To find out the truth, you need to figure out what kind of substance it is. Formaldehyde is an organic compound called formic acid aldehyde. In high concentrations, it is poisonous to the body.

In varnishes, such a substance is used as a preservative to increase the shelf life of products. And also formaldehyde gives the color extra durability. Included in the composition, it guarantees that the varnish coating will not fade or fade over time, but, on the contrary, will retain the original color scheme.

Until recently, people did not know how nail varnishes affect the human body. They began to engage in research work only a few decades ago.

This substance has a negative effect on human immunity and its nervous system. It often causes allergies in the form of skin rashes and itching. Formaldehyde also affects the nail itself negatively. It destroys the plate, makes it thinner and gradually leads to delamination. However, such an effect was detected in products in which the permissible norm of formaldehyde compounds was exceeded. If formaldehyde is in the varnish in negligible amounts, it practically does not harm health.

The only drawback of means with its content is the "drying" of the nail plate.

To choose harmless varnishes, you need to carefully study the label. Safe media will be labeled 5-free or 3-free. Usually there are no such designations on cheap varnishes from inexpensive manufacturers.

Lacquer materials without toluene, camphor and formaldehyde are considered safe for health and nails. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers offer products without these components. If they are included in your usual manicure products, you should heed the recommendations to avoid the risk of nail problems.

• Do not permanently apply formaldehyde varnish. Take breaks. It is better not to walk with varnish for more than 2-3 weeks. After this time, you need to give the nail a two-week rest.
• During breaks, the nails should be nourished. For these purposes, it is necessary to rub various oils into them. Vegetable unrefined, aniseed, olive, castor will do.

• To maintain the health of the nail plate, it is recommended to drink vitamin and mineral supplements. They will normalize the structure of the nails and prevent it from collapsing.

You can also do a healthy manicure with special products without formaldehyde. They often use other preservatives obtained from ecological methods. Their only drawback is the more expensive price tag. What to choose - high-quality and safe products or cheap, but harmful, everyone decides for himself.

You can learn more about formaldehyde in nail polish in the video below.