Blistered fingers!

[Fake it...]

Hi Geeks,
I'm wondering if anyone can help me please? I have a client who had CND retention l&p over tips and has had 3 rebalances since. The tips are now gone (grown off and not soaked off and replaced) and the nails are now NNO.
She hasn't any allergies that she is aware of.
Around 24 hrs after each appointment the very tips of her fingers under the free edge become terribly itchy. This lasts for around 4 days and the process is always the same, itchiness then the skin forms tiny, painless blisters, drys out and then the skin peels away.
We thought initially that she was possibly allergic to Solaroil as she has experienced this before from a salon that uses Solaroil. We left it off after her 2nd treatment (she didn't remember until it happened after her 1st treatment) it didn't make any difference. We then left off the hand cream and then the cuticle remover, all to no avail. She loves the nails and doesn't want to have them removed as she says it doesn't really bother her but we are both curious as to what could be the cause?
I've never come across this before at all. I've had one client in 17 yrs who developed an allergy to gel and l&p and after a couple of weeks caused her natural nail to separate from the nail bed. She now is overjoyed that Shellac is available as it's plain sailing for her.
Does anyone know what it could be?
I do all of my filing by hand, not electronically and as her nails are quite long the file doesn't touch the skin on her fingertips.
I thought it could be the glue but as the tips are now gone so is that.
Any tips would be appreciated.
I've asked her to take a pic so that I can post it for you all to see.
Thanks folks xxx

 

[Envy]

It does sound like an allergic reaction... Sorry to say...

And it could well be to monomer, even if you are doing everything right to avoid contact she may just be very unlucky...

If you do brisa I would suggest this as an alternative. Has the same look and feel as l&p with lower irritation potential

 

[babezone]

could it be cuticle oil. or maybe somehow the blade u use to cut tips?.....not sure how it would cause a reaction like but trying tot think of things that cover that area. xxx

 

[Fake it...]

Envy, yes I think it's an allergic reaction too. I have advised her to see a skin specialist or even her doctor to try and determine the cause but she says that she isn't bothered, just curious. I have made a note of my advice on her consultation card just in case!
I am trained in Brisa and have been for some years although it didn't really take off in my salon, all of my clients were happy with l&p so didn't want to cross over and it got to the point where I had one irregular client that was having Brisa every now and then. I took it off the menu in the end, I don't really want to take the plunge again at the minute as I'm about to go on maternity leave so could do without the outlay for little return, however I'd never say never in the future as I really like the product.
I will encourage her to seek a second/third opinion and let you know the outcome. Many thanks for your reply xx

 

[AcidPerm]

It sounds like classic allergy symptoms and is likely to get worse if the client continues contact with the particular allergen.

It's worth referring her to her GP for a proper diagnosis.

Finding the cause will be more difficult to ascertain.

Tip glue might be the cause or one of the chemicals in the l&p products.

(I can't wear L&P generally or use tip glue as it gives me asthmatic symptoms)

One option is to apply just one of the substances to one nail and wait for at least a day to see if there's any reaction. Then try a second component of the whole service until you find the culprit. This may or may not work!

Take care though and check the situation with your insurers. Your client may want to take a risk but your insurers may not be prepared to cover you unless you get approval from her GP.

Anecdotally, my friends little boy is allergic to peanuts but the first two times he eat peanut butter, he suffered no reaction at all. The third time, he experienced symptoms that required an ambulance to be called. The doctor told the mum that if he had peanut butter a fourth time, his body would have had a very severe reaction to it and that it sometimes takes exposures to a substance for several occasions before a serious life threatening reaction occurs.

 

[Fake it...]

Babezone,
I would say no to both as we haven't used Solaroil since and the metal tip cutters were used during the first treatment but never since, however you have got me wondering. Could she be allergic to the precision curette? I don't know if this is even possible as I haven't looked into it and off the top of my head, am not sure what it's made from etc. It is the CND one. I will think outside the box though as it may well be something that's not obvious... Acetone, Scrubfresh, Mundo, Me lol!
Thanks for your reply, good to get the brain in gear xxx

 

[Envy]

AcidPerm advice is spot on. Trial testing with different combinations will narrow down the suspect...

My gut feeling is still monomer

I say this as the reaction fades after a few days... Once monomer fully cures it becomes inert and non reactive. This in turn stops the histamine reaction...
She will likely become quicker and more severe in her reaction

Acetone, scrub fresh and your curette do not have any allergenic properties...

 

[Fake it...]

Sound advice guys, many thanks.
I fully agree with referring to Dr. Hence the reason I made a note of my actions and advice on her consult card.
Will speak to her on Monday and inform her of my findings curtesy of you guys.
Another reason to love SG
xxx

 

[Fake it...]

Ok Geeks, as promised here are the pictures of my clients fingers. This is after the blisters!
My client has been an extreme nail biter throughout her life and admits that she continues to nibble at the skin surrounding the nail. Sidewalls etc. At the moment I don't know if she is doing this before, during or after this itching, blistering, drying process. I will find out. I have asked for a note from her Doctors for my insurance purposes. Just thought I'd keep you updated.
(Having seen this picture it is actually similar to something I've seen before.
I used Sun in on my hair years ago and this is what happened to my fingers. Now, I'm certainly NOT a hairdresser and most definitely DO NOT condone the use of Sun in or similar products... It was very damaging to my hair but I was young!)
xx

 

[sleepingbeauty]

Is there anyway you can apply some sort of barrier cream to the affected areas prior to repeat treatments to prevent said reaction ??

 

[lushXtensions]

Ouch this is how my fingers looked defo an allergic reaction also just found out I am allergic to acrylic so frustrating I can't even be in the room breathing it or I come out in a rash and blisters on my hands I've tried every barrier cream on the market when using gel and still a no no so frustrating its fibreglass all the way now

 

[sleepingbeauty]

I also react to Bio Sculpture but I've learnt to wear gloves & keep my hands away from rubbing my face. This client really needs to reconsider the risks here because the effects at the moment are subtle. It took me a while to realise Bio Sculpture was causing me this problem so my face was bloated & my eye closed with my eyebrow dropping. I also had deep crows feet creasing around the eyes (my doctor initially thought it was Bells Paulsy or Shingle Eye because the effects were gradually getting very bad ).

 

[Fake it...]

Interesting comments, thank you everyone. She's booked in again in 3 weeks and will see her Doctor in the meantime. I will show her this whole thread and see what the Doc says, I'll keep you posted x