Urgent help needed, bad reaction.

[butterfly9]

Hello, i need help with what i think is a severe reaction to my nail products. :cry: I use odourless uv polymer liquid with acrylic powder and tips. No gel.

This has affected me, not the client (i work from home).Both hands (the left is a lot worse) are covered in tiny little, very itchy blisters that have now become hard, raised brown lumps and are sore. I've done 6 sets so far (i'm new) with no problem, until friday. It happened an hour after the client had gone. (i have ruled out other products such as detergent etc)
I did my training end of Aug this year and bought the products from the company (based in Manchester). I am very strict on hygiene. I have e mailed them too.
I cannot move my left hand much as it is swollen. It feels like a burn.
I'd be really grateful for any comments as this did happen four weeks ago but the reaction was not as severe and the doc just gave me steroid and aqueous cream (which seemed to make it worse) It did clear up and it could have been one of a few things i did that day. This time though, i can pinpoint it was definetly the nail products.
Any ideas as to what to do to relieve it? I'd be very grateful. I have bought some gloves for the next time i do a set!!
Thank you
Sam x

 

[geeg]

I'm sorry to hear this. It does sound as if it is your products. Unfortunately, odourless systems are the ones most likely to cause allerigic reactions. The problem is in the unreacted rubbery layer that gets onto your skin when filing and in your files etc. You can minimise this and eliminate the sticky layer by curing the nails in warm water. Doing this hardens the surface so you do not have that unreacted layer.

Once allergic ALWAYS allergic .. the problem will not go away. You will have to change your product line or use L&P or try the advice above re the warm water cure.I hope this will help you.

 

[PolishedAussie]

Hey there,
Sounds like a pretty severe reaction. The only thing that I could suggest is that you wear gloves. Alternatively you could try different products. I noticed that you didn't indicate the products that you were using. You never know there may be others which have had problems with the product, and over come it etc. It may just be one product in the range i.e., bonder, nail dehydration etc. If it keeps on occuring, then the only thing left to do is give it up. There is no point struggling on if it is causing issues with your health.

 

[butterfly9]

I'm sorry to hear this. It does sound as if it is your products. Unfortunately, odourless systems are the ones most likely to cause allerigic reactions. The problem is in the unreacted rubbery layer that gets onto your skin when filing and in your files etc. You can minimise this and eliminate the sticky layer by curing the nails in warm water. Doing this hardens the surface so you do not have that unreacted layer.

Once allergic ALWAYS allergic .. the problem will not go away. You will have to change your product line or use L&P or try the advice above re the warm water cure.I hope this will help you.

Thank you so much. I have found some info online that relates to "lymphocytes" which release lymphokines which cause itching, pain, swelling and blisters!
It's gloves from now on then! Do i cure the nails in warm water before i file and seal? Can i ask what L&P is?
Thank you for your help Gigi.

 

[geeg]

Yes. Complete one hand and immerse the fingertips in warm (not hot) water for 3 minutes. Complete the other hand and do the same. File and finish.

L&P stands for Liquid & Powder. As all systems are acrylic, it is less confusing to use the correct terms for what we use.

Liquid & powder
Gels
Wraps
Odorless Liquid & Powder

You're welcome.

 

[tigi]

Geeg, would you also suggest that if this happened to anyone and they were going to continue using the product also take an antihistamine before working with the product too? Or would this not help?

I have extremely sensitive skin, it reacts to the slightest thing and so am already wearing gloves when working on clients but have had no reactions as of yet. I also take an antihistamine too and wonderd if there was reall a need to, is it overkill? (they make me a bit drowsy sometimes).

Your advice would be most welcome

tigi

 

[butterfly9]

Hi there, i tried antihistamines for my hand and it did nothing. The doc and pharmacist i spoke to said he doubted it would help. I tried Piriton, the non drowsy one for skin irritation and allergies.
Yep, looks like gloves are the best option.
Sam.

 

[geeg]

I can't say really. I would work it out myself by trial and error.

Taking an antihistamine will not prevent you from becoming allergic to anything. Keeping products away from contact with your skin will. Work carefully to avoid any overexposure.

Most nail products are very safe, but some do have more chance of irritating your skin than others as they have not fully polymerised and still have an unreacted layer that will try to react with YOU. Gels and odour free products to be specific. However with knowledge you can avoid these situations.

Try without the antihistamine and see how you go on then if you need to take them you can.

 

[tigi]

I am going to do my gel course tomorrow and so will make sure i ask lots of questions re this.

Geeg, thank you for the excellent advice, yes sam, I think you and I will be wearing gloves. still I dont find it hard to work with them on or anything and it stops me filing the skin off my hand just below my thumb all the time!

get well soon

tigi
xxx

 

[butterfly9]

Still suffering with my left hand, it's all dry and the skin looks scarred. I've been told that it's probably down to the cheap products i was sold on my course. Lesson learned; wear gloves and don't use cheap products! It's not worth it.

 

[mely-bely]

I can certainly feel your pain. I am allergic to anything that goes under a UV lamp to cure and learned the hard way that I cannot work with gels without gloves. I have to use the big yellow dishwashing gloves as they were the only ones I found that the product could not penetrate.

Gigi - thank you for the tip about using warm water to cure up the odourless system - I sell the stuff and didn't know that. We use a sealant that cures the products tacky layer, but I really like this suggestion! I have learned so much from all of you in the few short months I have been on this sight, and I have to say, knowledge is definitely power!