QuestionI wore sculptured nails for many, many years, and suddenly I appear to have developed a severe allergy to either the product or the method of application. I used several different salons over the years. I was told by a new salon that solar nails would not cause the reactions (painful blisters, peeling skin, redness and swelling) that acrylic nails and their application cause. Furthermore, any contact my hands would have with my face (such as applying makeup) would cause the same reaction on my face. I would love to have the beautiful look of manicured nails again, but understandably, I'm a little gun-shy. Any information on whether or not it is true that solar nails would be the way to go would be greatly appreciated. I could not bear to go through that painful agony again.
AnswerFrom the symptoms you are describing, it sounds like you are indeed having an allergic reaction to acrylic. This can occur after many years of overexposure to the acrylic monomer (from the liquid actually touching the skin repeatedly, as when a poorly-skilled tech uses their wet acrylic brush to clean around the cuticles, for example.). Unfortunately, now that you've developed the allergy, it will not go away. Any time in the future that you have liquid and powder acrylic applied, you will have the allergic reaction.
There is still a possibility that you can wear enhancements, if you are willing to find a reputable salon which offers fiberglass or silk wraps. This service tends to not elicit the allergic response that the acrylic monomer does. You can also try gel enhancements--real gel nails, not liquid and powder acrylic with a gel top coat, which is often passed off as gel by some disreputable nail salons. Specifically, the CND Brisa brand of gel. It is a hypo-allergenic product, meaning that it contains less--or none--of the typical ingredients that cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. If you need a referral to a Brisa gel tech, you can check out this link: http://www.cnd.com/Consumer.aspx# and click the "locate" link to find a salon in your area. Let me stress that not all gels are hypoallergenic like Brisa--some of them will also cause the allergic reaction; some especially sensitive people will even have a reaction to Brisa. Once you find a Brisa tech, have a test nail done to make sure you won't react. Always test first!
You mentioned that this new salon has told you that "solar nails" would not cause this reaction. The fact is, what is commonly called "solar nails" is actually the very same liquid and powder acrylic you've developed an allergy to. Some salons use the name "solar" (which is actually a brand name of CND) to describe their pink and white acrylic nails, or white tip with clear powder (basically, the permanent french look). It's a marketing ploy to make the consumer think they're getting something different for the increased price.
I hope you find this answer helpful! Please feel free to ask any follow-up questions if you need clarification.
