Gel Nail Reactions: Understanding Drug Interactions & Client Safety

Question
I am currently learning how to do UV Gel Nails. I have been told by other people in my area that do gel nails that I have to be careful with my clientele having drug reactions, both prescription and otherwise, and causing the gel's to not adhere to the natural nail. Do you know if there is any truth behind this, and if there is do you know how I would go about finding a copy of a list of which drugs and prescription drugs cause this reaction. I dont want my clients thinking its my technique making the gels not stay. I would like to be as informed as possible about everything to do with gel nails before i start offering them at the Day Spa I work at.

Thank You for your time.

Destiny Slater

Answer
Dear Destiny,

With ANY kind of enhancement, a client's health can/will affect the adherence of the product to the natural nail plate. BUT this does NOT mean that 'drugs' will interact with the enhancements.  This is simply not so.
Clients who take medication on a daily basis such as anti-depressants, or other will 'sometimes' experience lifting of the product.  Usually, this can be remedied by changing the manner of prep.  By either adding 'priming' to the prep (usually only done with acrylic applications but may be tried with gel on very difficult clients) or double bonding, or changing even the product line  (I use 2 different product brands myself for this very reason. It's like with soap: what's good for one may not be for the other).
Other things that may cause enhancements not to adhere properly are:
excessively oily skin/hair/nails
regular and very frequent use of a spa or pool
poor diet or a vegetarian diet
daily medication (such as anti-depressants)
etc..

The list is long..  

As long as you are certain your prep of the nails is perfect and that your application is good, then you shouldn't have concerns.  I regret that there does not exist a list of medications known to be contra-indicators.
Basically, what happens is sometimes a client's nail plate is not like the average person's due to either poor health, medication or whatever.  So, since the nail plate is not of the 'average', then the product doesn't bond as well because it's meant for a different surface. Kind of like using wood glue to adhere ceramic tiles together.  Just won't work.  You need the right adhesive for the job.

My advice is that if you should experience an issue with lift in a case where there really shouldn't be, contact your product distributor and see what they suggest to resolve the issue.

hope this helps
best regards
Victoria