Nail and spa products can contain various ingredients that may have positive or negative effects on the users health. Here are some details on nail products and their ingredients:

Negative effects:

• Ethyl methacrylate (EMA): This substance is the main ingredient in artificial fingernails and can cause allergies, asthma, and dermatitis in both nail technicians and customers.

• Formaldehyde: This ingredient is found in nail polish and nail hardener and can cause difficulty breathing, including coughing, asthma-like attacks, and wheezing, as well as allergic reactions and irritated eyes, skin, and throat. Formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen.

• Isopropyl acetate: This ingredient is found in nail polish and nail polish remover and can cause sleepiness, as well as irritated eyes, nose, and throat.

• Toluene sulfonamide/formaldehyde resin (TSFR): This ingredient is used in some nail polishes to make the coating tough and resilient. TSFR can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Positive effects:

• Resins: Some nail products contain resins that form a strong coating on the nails, rather than hardening the nails themselves. These resins can help the polish adhere to the nail, add gloss, and help the product flow well when applied.

• Acrylic polymers: Artificial nails are composed primarily of acrylic polymers and are made to look like natural nails.

It is important to use nail products safely, following labeled directions and paying attention to any warning statements. Nail products for both home and salon use are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) . The labels of all cosmetics, whether marketed to consumers or salons, must include a warning statement whenever necessary or appropriate to prevent a health hazard that may occur with use of the product. Employers and workers can take steps to protect health when working with products that contain potentially hazardous chemicals, such as choosing safer products and reading about the products being used.