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

Manicure and pedicure varnish is a multicomponent material. Depending on the manufacturer, it can include both components that are neutral to health and dangerous. The latter include formaldehyde. We will figure out what this component is, and how it affects health.

Decorative coatings for women’s nails have been used since ancient times. Previously, they were available only to noble people, but over time, they invented the varnishes that most women use. For several decades, the composition of varnish has changed.

Today, regardless of the manufacturer, such products 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 in this group give the coating strength.
• Solvents. These are ingredients that allow the varnish to maintain a liquid consistency for a certain time. Most manufacturers use alcohol as solvents.
• Pigment particles. They are the substances on which the color palette of the coating depends.
• Polymer compounds. Components whose function is to give gloss to the finished coating.

The last group may include formaldehyde compounds.

On various sites, disputes erupt over whether formaldehyde in nail polish is harmful 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 a poison for the body.

In varnishes, such a substance is used as a preservative to increase the shelf life of products. And also formaldehyde gives color additional durability. Included in the composition, it gives a guarantee that the lacquer 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 manicure varnishes affect the human body. Research work began only a few decades ago.

This substance negatively affects the human immunity and his nervous system. Often it causes an allergy in the form of skin rashes and itching. Formaldehyde also negatively affects the nail itself. 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 in the varnish formaldehyde is in a negligible amount, it practically does not harm the health.

The only drawback of the funds with its content is the “overdrying” of the nail plate.

To choose a harmless varnish, you need to carefully study the label. Safe funds will be marked 5-free or 3-free. Usually such designations are not 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 the usual products for manicure, you should follow the recommendations to avoid the risks of problems with the nails.

• Do not apply formaldehyde coatings continuously. Take breaks. It is better not to go with varnish for more than 2-3 weeks. After this time, you need to give your fingernail a two-week rest.
• During breaks, nails should be nourished. For these purposes, it is necessary to rub various oils into them. Suitable vegetable unrefined, aniseed, olive, castor.

• 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 do a healthy manicure with special means without formaldehyde. They often use other preservatives obtained by environmental methods. Their only negative is a 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.