Toxins in Nail Polish?
When you went to the nail salon for a bit of pampering you may have noticed that your nail technician was wearing a face mask. What you may not have noticed is that the nail color you selected contains poison. Consumer protection groups have been pressuring nail polish makers to eliminate the more hazardous ingredients from their products for years. Just what are these ingredients that you should be concerned about?
Dibutyl Phthalate
Without going into a detailed chemistry lesson, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) provides the plastic quality to nail polish and escapes easily to be
absorbed into the our air, water, and our bodies. Multiple scientific studies have shown an association between phthalate exposure and the development of breast cancer and birth defects, making it wholly unsuitable for women’s beauty products. Ongoing research is studying its connection to obesity and insulin resistance. In worse news, the effects are cumulative with each exposure. That means that your use and at the nail salon, combines with the phthalates already found in our air, water, and other products (plastic and beauty products) and increases your risk of suffering negative health effects. Nail polish with this ingredient has been banned by the City of San Francisco and the United States and European Union governments have banned it in products aimed at children. Some nail polish makers, such as OPI and Sally Hansen, have said they reformulated their products to remove the chemical (though their bottles do not make this disclosure and they still contain the other toxins listed in this article).
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a gas that is used to harden nail polish and is toxic to all living creatures. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and breathing difficulties (including triggering asthma attacks). Some people are sensitive to the ingredient and have allergic symptoms to exposure, such as coughing, fatigue, rashes, and even severe allergic reactions. Scientific evidence shows that this ingredient causes cancer.
Toluene
Toluene is used to suspend the color in nail polish and help it adhere evenly to the nail. Notably, it is also used to boost the octane in gasoline. Toluene can cause eye irritation and affects the central nervous system. Even minimal exposure can cause headaches, memory loss, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and fatigue. Exposure to high amounts of the toxin can lead to birth defects, miscarriage, developmental abnormalities, liver damage, kidney damage, and color vision loss.
BYOP = Bring Your Own Polish
No amount of fashion is worth the effects of this “toxic trio” (each of which is listed on the California Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer and possess reproductive toxicity) and it can hardly be considered true pampering to risk poisoning your body (and everyone else’s in the salon). To be safe, select a salon that is “green” and uses non-toxic nail polish brands. If you can’t find a green salon near you, make sure the salon you select is well-ventilated, try to make less frequent visits, and bring your own non-toxic nail polish and nail polish remover along. Better yet, do your own nails with non-toxic products at home. Avoid salons altogether if you are pregnant and keep your children out of the salon always. With all these toxins in our nail polish – and other commonly used products and our environment – a healthy detoxification regimen that supports your body’s natural cleansing process is vital to maintain your health. Look for products with high quality, effective ingredients such as Jadience Herbal Formula Total Body Detox Capsules, and, to really pamper yourself, the Total Body Detox Soak.
