Envy
Well-Known Member
I have noticed a lot of threads commenting on allergies and irritation, I figured this would be a great time to raise awareness and expand some knowledge...
Firstly, what is an allergy?
An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder in the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. These can range from simply irritation, through to mild allergy (eg. Hay fever) and right through to extreme and potentially life threatening (such as peanut or bee sting allergy)
There is no single known cause of ‘why’ allergies occur, for many it’s genetic, for some it’s environmental or childhood illness related.. The one rule of thumb that seems to a general indicator is “fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair – beware”
What we do know, once you develop an allergy it is basically for life… The body will be quicker to react with any future exposure to the substance it’s now reactive to. The first warning sign of your body’s reaction is irritation, inflamed, red, itchy skin means you are very much heading down the track of allergy. Once this starts to form water blisters and feels hot and sore you have developed a full blown contact allergy.
What’s the risk?
What we do know is there are many products that can easily lead to allergy, ESPECIALLY as nail technicians. Many of the products we use ‘could’ lead to allergy.. However NONE of these allergies need to ever occur IF you understand safe use and handling. Overexposure is defined as ‘repeated and prolonged exposure above levels specified safe by regulatory agencies’
Nail plates are of course non-living keratin – so can NEVER react to allergy themselves – BUT the soft tissue (skin) around the nail is very capable of being overexposed. In the case of most nail products, simply touching skin with uncured product (such as your liquid & powder brush) is overexposure.
Most nail enhancement products are a source of irritation in their ‘uncured form’ once cured the risk drops off to virtually nothing.. [/COLOR]
Below is the ‘ladder of sensitivity’ the higher up the ladder the higher the chance of causing allergy
Topof the ladder - highest chance of allergy
|_|
|_| Traditional Gels, buff off or soak off & UV gel polish
|_| MMA liquid & powder
|_| Odourless liquid & powder
|_| Low odour liquid & powder
|_| Ema Liquid & powder
|_| brisa gel
|_| Shellac
|_| Wraps & resin
|_| Nail Polish (non uv)
|_|
Bottom of the ladder - lowest chance of allergy
What can I do about an allergy?
Basically … nothing … once you have an allergy, you will always have it.. you can relieve symptoms by using steroid creams and anti-histamines, but this will only ever be temporary..
your best defence is actually prevention – working safe and avoiding touching known irritants to soft tissue will ensure you AND YOUR CLIENTS do not become allergic to you products – if you know you are sensitive, gloves may be a very good idea as a precaution. Below are some of the most common bad habits that nail techs get into that lead to allergic reaction…
Common points of exposure:
Handling chemicals without protection
Product (liquid/gel) on your brush handle
resting your finger on your dappen dish when wetting your brush
Leaning on your table wipes
Swiping the brush across clients skin
even allowing fresh filings to land on your skin is a source of exposure to uncured product
and any other where you come into contact with uncured product
(once product is fully cured, it becomes inert, and will not add to the irritation risk)
I hope this helps your understanding of allergies and will inspire your safe handling of potential irritants…
Firstly, what is an allergy?
An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder in the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. These can range from simply irritation, through to mild allergy (eg. Hay fever) and right through to extreme and potentially life threatening (such as peanut or bee sting allergy)
There is no single known cause of ‘why’ allergies occur, for many it’s genetic, for some it’s environmental or childhood illness related.. The one rule of thumb that seems to a general indicator is “fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair – beware”
What we do know, once you develop an allergy it is basically for life… The body will be quicker to react with any future exposure to the substance it’s now reactive to. The first warning sign of your body’s reaction is irritation, inflamed, red, itchy skin means you are very much heading down the track of allergy. Once this starts to form water blisters and feels hot and sore you have developed a full blown contact allergy.
What’s the risk?
What we do know is there are many products that can easily lead to allergy, ESPECIALLY as nail technicians. Many of the products we use ‘could’ lead to allergy.. However NONE of these allergies need to ever occur IF you understand safe use and handling. Overexposure is defined as ‘repeated and prolonged exposure above levels specified safe by regulatory agencies’
Nail plates are of course non-living keratin – so can NEVER react to allergy themselves – BUT the soft tissue (skin) around the nail is very capable of being overexposed. In the case of most nail products, simply touching skin with uncured product (such as your liquid & powder brush) is overexposure.
Most nail enhancement products are a source of irritation in their ‘uncured form’ once cured the risk drops off to virtually nothing.. [/COLOR]
Below is the ‘ladder of sensitivity’ the higher up the ladder the higher the chance of causing allergy
Topof the ladder - highest chance of allergy
|_|
|_| Traditional Gels, buff off or soak off & UV gel polish
|_| MMA liquid & powder
|_| Odourless liquid & powder
|_| Low odour liquid & powder
|_| Ema Liquid & powder
|_| brisa gel
|_| Shellac
|_| Wraps & resin
|_| Nail Polish (non uv)
|_|
Bottom of the ladder - lowest chance of allergy
What can I do about an allergy?
Basically … nothing … once you have an allergy, you will always have it.. you can relieve symptoms by using steroid creams and anti-histamines, but this will only ever be temporary..
your best defence is actually prevention – working safe and avoiding touching known irritants to soft tissue will ensure you AND YOUR CLIENTS do not become allergic to you products – if you know you are sensitive, gloves may be a very good idea as a precaution. Below are some of the most common bad habits that nail techs get into that lead to allergic reaction…
Common points of exposure:
Handling chemicals without protection
Product (liquid/gel) on your brush handle
resting your finger on your dappen dish when wetting your brush
Leaning on your table wipes
Swiping the brush across clients skin
even allowing fresh filings to land on your skin is a source of exposure to uncured product
and any other where you come into contact with uncured product
(once product is fully cured, it becomes inert, and will not add to the irritation risk)
I hope this helps your understanding of allergies and will inspire your safe handling of potential irritants…
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