Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, a GP and award-winning aesthetician, tells GLAMOUR that while there isn’t a particular link between gel nail polish and eczema, a lot of nail polishes have got “blues and lots of different chemicals in them to give them colour, shine, longevity etc, so they’re full of lots of different ingredients.”
“Essentially,” he explains, “The reality is some of these chemicals will come into contact with your skin, causing eczema, which is driven by irritation. It’s not the gel nail polish per se, but it’s the ingredients and chemicals inside.”
I also spoke to Dr Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist at Self London, who agreed that there’s “no hard evidence” to suggest a causal link between gel nail polish and eczema. However, she adds, “Anecdotally, this is definitely something I’ve seen more of in clinic over recent years. I see a lot of people with contact dermatitis around the skin of the nail, and for some, gel nails can absolutely be an irritant.”
Dr Mahto points out that the removal of gel nail polish can also be an irritant. “Gel nail polish is designed to last a lot longer than regular nail polish, so it makes it more difficult to remove,” she explains. “The removal in itself (often acetone placed over the nail bed and therefore the surrounding skin too) can be highly irritating and lead to conditions such as contact dermatitis.”
RESULTS:
Before I gave up gel nail polish, I was experiencing a particularly nasty flare-up (see the below photo on the left), during which eczema covered my eye areas, spreading to my upper cheek and brow bone. I couldn’t apply any skincare or makeup for fear of causing further irritation. Worst of all? My confidence was in hell. I felt extremely self-conscious, not to mention annoyed by well-meaning friends who kept nagging me to stop rubbing my eyes.
After having the remnants of my last gel manicure professionally removed, the results were almost instantaneous. Within a week, the rash felt like a minor sting rather than an insatiable itch, meaning I managed to stop touching my face quite so often. After a month, the rash had cleared up altogether, leaving me – for the first time in years – with uncrinkled, pain-free eyes. By month three, I felt confident enough to start using skincare and makeup again, taking care to use an ultra-sensitive cleanser (I went for the Cerave Hydrating Cleanser) and diligently removing all makeup before going to sleep.
Six months after I removed the gel nail polish, my skin – particularly around my eyes – is looking and feeling healthier than ever (see the below photo on the right). Yes, I’ve still got dark circles around my eyes. Yes, my skin texture is clearly uneven. And yes, I know I need to get my eyebrows done! But the previous inflammation is nowhere to be seen. For the first time in weeks, I feel confident taking a selfie – can you tell?