A lady’s look is not complete unless the nails are done. That’s a fact. Nail polish is one of the essential beauty products that every woman must have in her beauty set at home. However, she must be careful about what she buys because some nail polishes can threaten the health seriously.

The truth is, nail polishes are made with lots of chemicals, and many of them are not safe at all. The worst part is that they are not only dangerous to women who are using them to polish their nails but also to everyone else who comes in contact with an open bottle, including children. Let’s take a closer look at these chemicals and what kind of threats they pose to our health.

DBP or Dibutyl Phthalate

A plasticiser and member of the phthalate family of chemicals, the DBP is used in the production of nail polish to minimise the chipping. It sounds great that there is an ingredient that makes the nail polish last longer and not chip, right? Well, not really because this chemical is also an endocrine disruptor and mimics the estrogen in the body. Because of it, male fetuses hormonal development is disrupted. Moreover, it can cause organ damage and trigger early-onset menopause.

However, it must be noted that research was done only on animals and not humans. Nevertheless, this doesn’t change the fact that it decreases fertility, leads to hormonal disruption, bioaccumulation and organ damage. In Europe, DBP is banned in cosmetic and personal care products whereas in Australia it is classified as a risk to human reproduction.

Toluene

This one creates a smooth finish, and it smells nice and sweet. However, it has highly toxic fumes, and the chemical is considered a very dangerous neurotoxin that can cause neurological damage. Moreover, it is responsible for decreased brain function, nausea, hearing loss and breathing difficulties. It can also cause impaired fetal development with pregnant women. EU Union has restricted its use in cosmetic products including nail polish.

Formaldehyde

The hardener of nails, the formaldehyde, is a preservative that protects the nails against bacteria growing underneath. Our bodies produce formaldehyde naturally in tiny amounts which makes people believe that this ingredient is not dangerous at all. The truth is that if you get exposed to larger doses, it may cause cancer of the throat, nose and blood. Acute illnesses can develop from this chemical, including asthma, convulsions, nausea and miscarriages. What is even scarier is the fact that it can build-up in the lungs and cause terrifying pains.

Japan and Sweden are the only countries that have forbidden its use altogether, whereas the EU allows it only in limited use in personal care products.

Formaldehyde Resin

The formaldehyde resin is a by-product of formaldehyde and also present in the formula of nail polishes. However, this chemical can cause severe skin irritation and allergic reactions and in worst cases, skin depigmentation and loss of nerve sensation.

Camphor

Do you love the glossy and shiny finish touch of the nail polishes? I bet you do. Unfortunately, it triggers severe skin irritation, especially with the sensitive skin and scary allergic reactions. Moreover, if it is inhaled, it can cause nausea, dizziness and headaches. In the USA, the government has limited the concentration of its use f 11% while European markets are phasing it out,

Some Extra Tips

Finding your best nail polish is still possible. Luckily many natural nail polishes can still make your nails pretty. These are known as 3-free, 5-free, or 7-free nail polishes, the number is indicating how many of the dangerous chemicals are left out in the formula. This means that you must check the ingredient list and make sure these chemicals can’t be seen there.