At what age can you use gel polish?

Many mothers believe that early training of girls to take care of the nail plate will only lead to good things in the future. This statement is true, but children's manicure has its own characteristics. The use of serious nail care products has its age limits for many reasons. At what age can a child get gel polish - another common question asked by parents.

French manicure

Reasons for banning the use of gel polish for children

The availability of manicure products allows you to care for your nails at home. And visiting nail salons does not cost exorbitant amounts of money. All this is good, but the problem has a downside, a negative side. The ease of acquisition gives rise to uncontrolled use of drugs. If we are talking about medications, then most people immediately agree - adults and children should take pills under the supervision of a doctor and carefully study the instructions, pay attention to age restrictions, dosage, etc. Manicure products, in the understanding of many ladies, are not serious drugs. This statement is fundamentally incorrect.

Gel varnishes, base and finishing varnishes, liquids for removing the sticky layer, manicure removers can be classified as a risk group for the health of not only the nail plate, but also the entire female body.

Pupa Lasting Color Gel

Let's look at the composition of gel polish:

Photoinitiators. These are substances that prepare the gel for conversion to a solid state using a UV lamp. They are benzoins or α-aminoalkylphenones.
Thinners. Methacrylates are most often used. With their help, a hard coating is formed.
Foaming agents. This is a carbon compound that forms a hard film on the surface of the nail plate under the influence of UV.
Dyes, additives.

CND VINYLUX

All these compounds are of organic and inorganic nature. They penetrate the nail and cause changes in it. If we talk about liquids and gels for removing manicure, then the picture is even sadder. They contain acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate. No amount of softeners or vitamins can eliminate the damage that liquids cause to the nail plate, even of an adult woman. The causes of harm to a child are more extensive due to the fact that the child’s body continues to grow and develop.

Healing varnish

Is it possible to use gel polish for minors, cover nails with shellac, paint, or remove with special liquids? The answer to this question is unequivocal - no.

Gel polish changes the delicate children's nail plate. Even a single use can lead to cracking down to the base, detachment, and curvature.
All products for durable decorative coatings contain toxic substances that penetrate the body and cause allergic and other undesirable reactions.
The compounds contained in gel polishes enter the bloodstream through the skin and can disrupt the hormonal balance of a growing child’s body.

Doctors and professional manicurists set the limit - the child’s age of sixteen. Until this period, you can paint your nails with regular hygienic varnish to maintain the beauty and neatness of your hands. The coating should be as safe as possible.

Gel polish in acid shades - trend 2018

Manicure Guide for Teens

There must be thorough disinfection of the skin

Nude manicure

The procedure for applying a manicure is also slightly different from that for an adult. Thus, the master misses some effects that are particularly unfavorable for children’s nails and skin, and also never performs procedures that can damage delicate skin. Also, as a rule, teenage nails are quite short when applying a manicure, but sometimes a specialist also applies a top manicure. As a rule, when performing an operation, you must follow the following step-by-step instructions:

The first step should be thorough disinfection of the skin around the nails, cuticles and fingertips. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that antiseptics should not contain a lot of alcohol so as not to irritate the skin. However, at the same time, the liquids must be sufficiently active and kill 100% of microbes.
It is necessary to trim the nails carefully, without leaving a free hanging edge, since the nail plates are still too weak.
The edge of the nail is sharpened using files with abrasives of about 300 grit, since otherwise cracks may form on the plates.
The cuticle peels off from the nail and is removed, and in order for the procedure to take place without damaging the skin, you should use a remover based on fruit acids, which effectively dissolve the skin without damaging neighboring tissues, and also do not cause irritation due to natural ingredients.
Many children are prone to the bad habit of biting their nails, so the plate is most often treated with a special compound that repels the child from these actions.
After this, the design is applied with acrylic varnish, and here the master can give free rein to his imagination in accordance with the wishes and creative ideas of the young fashionista, using stencils, glitter and rhinestones.
The final touch is to apply the finishing coat and briefly put your fingers under ultraviolet light to dry.

Important! Following the procedure, when the specialist is absolutely sure that the varnish has hardened on the skin, it must be treated with moisturizing compositions based on plant components in order to provide proper care for the delicate tissues. You should also remember that children's fingers are more often exposed to the environment, the skin dries out and becomes irritated, which requires careful daily nail care after a manicure.

Rules for teenage manicure

To teach a girl or boy to keep their nails clean, tidy and not bite them, you can hygienically treat the nail plate at home or in a salon. The rules here are simple.

For young children and teenagers, an unedged manicure is recommended, which causes minimal damage to the nails.
The cuticle is rarely processed. If it is damaged, carefully remove it with nail scissors.
You can cover your nails with a special colorless or thin layer of the most harmless varnish. Painting nails with gel decorative derivatives is unacceptable.

The question at what age can you use gel polish without harm to health has a clear answer - after the end of the transitional period of maturation of the body, that is, after 16 years. Such manipulations with nails are prohibited for children.

Popular ideas for children's manicure design

Children's manicure can be done in any design and style, the most popular are:

an image of fruit, for example a slice of watermelon, a kiwi ring, a banana, a couple of cherries;
cartoon characters;
animals;
birds, butterflies;
hearts;
flowers and other plants.

For everyday children's manicure, you can choose a plain coating or one with a not very bright and provocative image. You can also apply the design not to all the nails, but, for example, only to the middle or index fingers.

In the summer, you can use brighter colors of varnish, stand out images, for example, bright Mickey Mouses, minions, and cover your nails with different colors of varnish.

A children's New Year's manicure can be done by applying snowflakes or snowmen to the nails, or you can draw a Christmas tree.

Diagnosis of nail fungus

It is possible to determine that the plates are affected by onychomycosis through a visual examination by a dermatologist. The manifestations of the fungus are usually so typical that it is no longer necessary to confirm the disease. If the symptoms are ambiguous, or the prescribed treatment does not show any effect, a microscopic examination of the nails is performed.

It is not recommended to diagnose yourself: even by looking at a photo of nail fungus after gel polish and comparing it with your own, you cannot make an accurate diagnosis without medical education.

Reviews

Anna, 27 years old: “I asked my master if the fungus is transmitted through nail polish, she said that it’s definitely not. But then I decided to give my nails a rest from the coating for a couple of weeks, and I saw that they had become yellow and brittle. At first I decided that my nails simply could not tolerate shellac, and when my fingers began to itch and itch, I looked on the Internet for photos of fingernail fungus after shellac, and realized that I needed to go to the doctor. I bought myself good gel polishes and a special lamp, I will do the procedure at home myself.”
Anastasia, 45 years old: “My teenage daughter became interested in manicure. I was understanding and encouraged self-care until I saw that her growing fingernails looked very strange. I wrote about this on my blog, and in the comments they sent me a photo of nail fungus after extensions . I took the child to a dermatologist, now we are undergoing treatment. I, my husband and my youngest daughter also apply medicinal products for prevention. I didn’t think that a simple manicure could be so dangerous.”

Watch the video - fungus after gel polish:

Is it possible to get nail extensions done during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, it is better for a woman to refuse nail extensions. The fact is that the effect on the fetus of various materials and solvents used during the procedure can be very harmful. These include acrylic, nail glue, varnish and nail polish remover. Don't lose sight of the fact that many chemicals used in nail extensions are quite strong allergens. This procedure is especially contraindicated during the first three months, when all systems and organs are formed in the baby. There have been cases when the smells of drugs caused nausea, dizziness and even fainting in pregnant women. These are the facts. However, there are no serious studies that would prove that nail extensions harm the unborn child. So think about it, is it worth the risk?

If your pregnancy is more than 4-5 months and you really, really need it, then by taking some precautions, you can afford this procedure. Here are the basic rules:

open the windows in the room where the extension will be carried out;
use expensive and high-quality drugs of the latest generation for extensions;
When finished, wash your hands thoroughly with soap;
To get rid of dust that appears after filing your nails, rinse your nose.

What harm could it do?

There are many taboos associated with female beauty. They say that during pregnancy you should not extend and paint your nails, cut and dye your hair, or do makeup, since the harmful substances contained in cosmetics can harm both the mother and the unborn baby.

Experts do not prohibit painting nails during the entire pregnancy. But not all manicure products are harmless. A woman's body during pregnancy is most susceptible to influence from the external environment. Any irritant can negatively affect her health or the development of her baby.

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Many cosmetics, in particular nail polishes, contain unsafe ingredients. Some of them, when drying or evaporating, release harmful vapors into the air, which can enter the female body through the respiratory tract. This can be fraught with unpleasant consequences, such as disturbances in the development of the fetus, provoking allergies or reducing the baby’s immunity.

What changes can happen to your nails?

During pregnancy, some women's nails become strong, elastic, and grow quickly. This indicates excellent health, good immunity, proper nutrition, which ensures the supply of necessary substances.

In other cases, on the contrary, the plate peels off, breaks, changes color or undergoes other changes. Every day a growing baby requires more macro- and microelements, protein, carbohydrates and fats, and vitamins.

If a mother does not watch her diet, the compounds necessary for the child’s development are taken from her bones, muscles, teeth and other parts of the body. As a result, this negatively affects not only the appearance of the skin and its derivatives, but also health.

Nails become brittle and peel

How to help your nails if they become brittle:

Eat more foods containing calcium. These are dairy and fermented milk, meat and fish dishes, seafood, nuts.
Ensure sufficient intake of vitamins A, E, B into the body. Sources of the first two are red-orange vegetables and fruits, liver, and leafy greens. If there is a deficiency of group B, it is necessary to pay attention to oatmeal and buckwheat, nuts, potatoes, grains, yeast, and liver.
Increase the amount of OMEGA fatty acids in your diet. This is facilitated by eating fatty fish, such as mackerel.

Is it harmful to have nail extensions?

Extension is a popular procedure that allows you to get nails with an ideal shape and smoothness, regardless of the type and condition of the natural plates. In general, the technology is considered safe, but it can still cause some harm.

Is gel nail extension harmful or not?

Nail extensions can lead to the following problems:

delamination after removal of the coating, especially often such damage is noted by women with naturally weak plates;
deformation of tissues - before extensions, nails are filed, and subsequently they can become distorted if the artist makes a mistake.

After removing the coating, the plates always look weakened and brittle. Gel nail extensions are harmful because they disrupt the oxygen supply. The coating does not allow the fabrics to breathe; as a result, they require long-term recovery and careful care.

After extensions, noticeable vertical “waves” may appear on the nails

Is it dangerous to do acrylic nail extensions?

Acrylic, like gel, allows you to form beautiful artificial nails, but is harmful to natural plates. The coating does not allow air to pass through and also exerts a certain physical pressure on natural tissues. After removing the extended nails, you must go through a recovery period, which can take up to six months.

Important! Extensions for fungal diseases are strictly contraindicated - the condition of the plates will only worsen.

Is it harmful to have nail extensions at 12, 13, 14 years old?

It is recommended to carry out extensions for teenagers no earlier than 16 years of age. Gel and acrylic coatings cause damage even to hard plates in adults, but girls’ nails are still quite soft and are in the process of development. After removing the manicure, particularly long and careful care will be required for recovery. Small mistakes made by the master during the process of building up or removing the coating can lead to serious damage to the plate and deformations that will be difficult to get rid of.

We recommend reading: The healing properties of propolis with milk and contraindications for use

Signs about black nails

Signs about dark nails arose rather from the negative attitude of many towards this shade. However, a number of predictions have the following interpretation:

The choice of black varnish means that a woman is destined to lose her husbands and become widows.
This color will certainly lead the superstitious to long-term depression, suicidal thoughts, and ultimately death.
It is also believed that a woman who paints her hands with black varnish subconsciously alienates those around her, endowing her life with excessive independence, coldness, and self-confidence.

In other words, some superstitious people seriously believe that applying varnish to the nail plates can cause illness, melancholy, and death. Speaking about the latter, it can be noted that this belief came from widows who put on mourning clothes. This also applies to makeup of the same color. Although skeptics note that a widowed woman who takes the time to apply varnish evenly with patience is not so heartbroken.

Is it worth going to a beauty salon?

Are you still wondering whether pregnant women can have their nails painted by a manicurist? We suggest considering the possible risks of the procedure:

There is a possibility of infection.
The products used by the master can be of very dubious quality.
Tool processing is not always carried out according to all requirements and standards.

Doctors do not advise pregnant women to undergo the procedure in beauty salons. The negligence of a technician can lead to serious illnesses.

Reasons for the appearance of fungus after shellac

Onychomycosis is a pathology provoked by a fungal pathogen. But the human body has its own defense mechanism - general and local immunity. When immunity decreases, contact with the fungus leads to infection in almost 100% of cases.

General immunity may decrease if:

endocrine diseases, especially diabetes;
cardiopathologies;
dermatoses;
taking immunosuppressants and antibiotics.

Local immunity is traditionally reduced due to injury. However, we are not always talking about serious damage - wearing tight shoes is enough to increase the risk of developing onychomycosis.

The procedure for applying gel polish or shellac often leads to injury to the plates. Especially if the service is not provided by a professional.

Burns often occur if a person does not have time to reach their fingers with the lamp to polymerize the gel, or if low-quality lamps are used.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to remove part of the nail plate with a file so that the gel can adhere better. If you cut down a little more than required, pain will occur and the risk of burns will also increase.
Cheap materials, usually ordered from a website with Chinese products, can cause burns, allergic reactions, damage and thinning of the plate. Each of these factors leads to a weakening of local defenses.
The choice of form can also negatively affect human health. Too narrow or curved nails interfere with blood circulation, tissues do not receive enough necessary substances from the bloodstream, so immunity decreases.

It is important to understand that nail fungus does not appear from gel polish . A well-performed procedure cannot cause harm. If there are any factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease, for example, somatic pathologies, you need to warn the manicurist about this. If discomfort occurs during coating, for example, burning in an ultraviolet lamp, you must immediately stop exposure to the traumatic factor.

The list of causes of fingernail fungus after gel polish includes allergic reactions to the composition of the gel, as well as prolonged wearing of the coating. When the gel begins to peel off, various microorganisms, including fungi, penetrate into the resulting cavities. It is impossible to thoroughly rinse such a cavity, so a delicate disease often develops in girls who carefully monitor the beauty of their nails, paradoxically.