MMA Nails: Risks, Hazards, and What You Need to Know

Question
hey victoria. i never ever get fake nails. i'm an artist and tips really wouldn't
work with what i do. however, i recently got engaged and with everyone
asking to see my ring, i wanted my nails to look nice. I knew about all the
hazards of nails but i never do it so i assumed that one time wouldn't be a
huge deal. I went to a place near my college and got "uv gel" of course it
wasn't real uv gel after i went home and researched. There was powder
involved and clearly it was mma. I went home to file them because he didn't
do them as short as I asked and I put myself in excruciating pain filing down
these things and then my entire fingers hurt all night. After researching uv
gel I found out that clearly I had mma on my fingers. I thought for sure that I
was paying for good uv gel considering I paid 38 dollars. Anyway I'm
wondering...is one time really bad? Like I'm very nervous reading about the
effects and I just want to go to a real salon to have them removed. What do
you think? Is this one time of having MMA on my nails really bad?? I'm kinda
freaking out.
-Jo.

Answer
Hi Joanna
First, CONGRATS on your engagement  :-)  
I'm glad you decided to educate yourself, but it's truly unfortunate that you got MMA as your fist experience.
With all the discount shops, it's truly difficult to find a good technician.
Keeping in mind, a quality set SHOULD cost between 40 and 80$ and a little less for maintenance.  Sometimes a little less if the tech works from home  OR is a newbie tech just starting out.

One experience of MMA is not going to cause you any permanent damage.  UNLESS the tech filed your natural nails so much, they broke through to the flesh underneath.. that might be cause for concern.

QUALITY UV Gel and QUALITY Acrylic are both safe and of equal performance and strength.  It's only the MMA variety of acrylic that you need worry about.

Please don't worry.  This one time is not going to poison you.
I would either let them grow out, or go to a reputable salon to have them removed (by buffing and soaking - NOT by forcing them off/ripping them/prying them.  NOT LIKE THAT. Only by buffing and soaking).

Best of luck
Victoria