Are Gel Manicures Bad For Nails? The Experts Weigh In

What is in gel polish? Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a Miami-based acupuncturist and nutritionist, suggests that gel manicures are dangerous for many reasons. "They contain formaldehyde, xylene toluene, and other toxic chemicals that go through our liver," says Dr. Trattner. "These chemicals enter our system via breathing them and our skin. These chemicals are bioaccumulative, which means they stay in our system."

Long-lasting nail polish is great, right? But the flip side to that is that a type of nail polish that sticks to your nails for a long period of time might, in turn, be damaging your nails while it's resting on them. Dr. Shilpi Agarwal, a board-certified family physician, suggests avoiding gel manicures for this reason. "For those getting them regularly, as in every two weeks, it can weaken the nail because of the abrasive bonding agent and the way the manicurist needs to sand down/file down the nail so the polish sticks," says Dr. Agarwal.

At the very end of the gel manicure process, you will find yourself entering the drying process, where some salons will ask you to stick your fingers underneath a UV lamp to help seal and dry the polish. Dr. Agarwal suggests that this can be one of the worst parts of the gel manicure process: "Not all salons have switched to LED lights, and UV lamps are still being used to help seal and dry the polish. This can lead to UV exposure and sunburns [or even] skin cancer if repeatedly exposed." Sydney Ziverts, a health and nutrition investigator for ConsumerSafety.org, says that even though some dermatologists say that the risk of developing malignant cancer due to UV exposure from a curing lamp is low, it's best to take precautions. "The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing fingerless gloves or applying sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher at least 15 minutes before your gel manicure," says Ziverts.

Alexis Irene, founder of Static Nails, says that regardless of what manicure you choose (gel or acrylic), your routine trip to the nail salon weakens your nail plates through dehydration, making them frail and thin. "Your hand as a whole also becomes drier, damaged, and affected by things like UV lights," says Irene.

If you find yourself getting a gel manicure twice a month, perhaps alternate between gel and regular to let your nails heal and grow. If you really want to improve your hand health, go natural for a week or two, so that your nails can fully breathe.