Have you ever hesitated to get your nails done with gel because you have heard rumors about it not being good for you? Or maybe you have been oblivious to the fact that getting gel polish on your nails is actually a major health risk. This risk has become even more evident because Europe just banned gel nails.

People may notice that after removing gel nail polish, their nails feel brittle and thin. While this is true, this is just the surface of much more serious issues.

There is an ingredient called Trimenthylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), found in gel nail polish. This ingredient is a photoinitiator, which means it’s a molecule that absorbs UV light and creates a reaction (hardening the polish). TPO has been found to affect the reproductive system, cause cancer, create cell mutations/kill the cells all together, cause premature aging on your hands, and damage your DNA – so much so that it sometimes cannot be repaired. It also has been discovered that TPO may disrupt your hormones.

Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor of bioengineering as well as cellular and molecular medicine at UC San Diego, stated: “We looked at patients with skin cancers, and we see the exact same patterns of mutations in these patients that were seen in the irradiated cells…exposure may cause mitochondrial dysfunction.” When one’s hands are placed under the UV light they are exposed to UV radiation and put at risk for mutations. These mutations could be very minor, but as one continues to go to the salon the risk and effects may increase.

Why are you just hearing about this? Well, no one has really studied gel nail polish until recently and concerns are currently arising. While Europe has been known to have strict health policies, this ban is something Americans should look into. Dermatologists recommend putting on sunscreen before placing your hand under the UV light, but even sunscreen may not fully protect your skin.

While it is up to your own discretion whether you will run the risk of having long lasting and hard nails, the concerns surrounding Gel nail polish are something to keep in mind. Personally, I have decided to stop using gel, because I feel these risks are not something with which to mess around.

As I said earlier, studies are still being conducted and may take as long as a decade, but Europe has pulled the plug. You may ask: “But how can they do that?” Doug Schoon, chair of the Nail Manufacturer Council on Safety, said in a statement: “This is a regulatory restriction on a single ingredient, not a ban on an entire product category.” Rest assured, it is only the ingredient TPO that has been banned. Not the UV light and entire gel category. I hope you now know and understand the effects and risk of gel nail polish and why the European Union decided to ban all gel nail polishes with the ingredient: TPO.

By Elizabeth Barrette ‘29, Sports and Beauty Editor

29ebarrette@montroseschool.org