For this week’s Health Talk, The Pioneer’s SHIKHA DUGGAL gleaned information regarding the health risks linked to long and not-so-slender nails and got a few dermatologists to shed light on the downside of growing abnormal nails.
We can see girls experimenting with elongated and fun nail lengths and shapes. More attention was brought to it when celebrity Sonakshi Sinha launched a nail brand that features a wide array of press-on nails. Stumped to see some cool designs on her! But what baffled us a little was when we heard the medical experts conversing on the pretext of how such extensions on your nails actually make them weaker.
Yes, it’s trending, but how do we not allow it to irritate our skin? So for this week’s Health Talk, to precisely know about the list of health risks linked with our long and not-so-slender nails, we picked up this topic and did an exploration with a few of the dermatologists around us. But reports suggest that polish sales reached $154 million in 2022, although artificial nails like press-ons are forecast to outperform sales of polish in 2023.
To corroborate this, we had to cross-check with a nail spa owner, so Gurpreet Seble, the president of NAIL SPA BY GURPREET, “Nails are the fastest-growing category in our industry. In 2004, I returned from Canada and introduced the nail industry to the country, but there were no takers. I travelled to all cities and towns to do workshops and create awareness of the artificial nail industry! In 2007, the market started to pick up, and we saw the upscale. Having witnessed the explosion of the nail Industry in North America, I knew it was only a matter of time before our country would get into the race.
In Canada and USA alone we are at 20,000 crores of nail business. India has just entered the race, but our population is vast, so we will see good growth in this decade. At NSG, I have trained 12,000 children who are either employed in nail bars or entrepreneurs running their own nail spas. We have set up 1,400 independent nail bars in the country for entrepreneurs who have employed these nail technicians. We have an international certification that assists in job placement pan India and abroad, including cruise lines!
Moreover, it’s the only nail company that tests its products in this climate and launches the latest trends from North America simultaneously over here. We are at par or better in nail art because we have a huge Bollywood demand that caters to our ethnic fashions and culture. There’s a wide range of fashionistas who are interested in a manicure with extensions and nail art or a simple gel polish on natural nails. There is a huge feel-good factor when your hands and toes are looking stunning. So, nails are absolutely a game changer today. Just grooming the hands and toes gives a million-dollar look, even if you are in jeans and t-shirts. This is the magic of nails, and they are necessary and affordable.”
But let’s turn to the other side of the page!
“Always remember to moisturise your nails, especially after removing nail polish, since nail polish removers contain chemicals that make the nails dry. The nail equipment, like nail cutters and nail clippers, should first be cleaned with lukewarm running water, specifically to remove all the visible debris and dirt. Followed by sterilisation, which can be done by soaking the equipment in 7.5% hydrogen peroxide, which can be easily bought from a chemist, or by soaking it in boiling water for half an hour.
This helps to remove most of the remaining pathogenic organisms! Once this is done, ensure that these don’t get re-infected by using tongs to pull out the equipment and placing them in a clean area. The best tip for cutting the nails is to cut them after soaking them in lukewarm water for ten minutes.
While cleaning the cuticle, pushing back or cutting the cuticle too deeply should be avoided, as it leads to tenderness of the nail folds and infection. Buffing the nails should not be done very often or very vigorously. If one doesn’t have any experience with buffing the nails, it should be avoided as it can lead to weakening of the nail bed, followed by the nail plate.
Yellow nails are seen in individuals who apply very dark nail polish and are frequent nail polish users. Even applying nail polish, which contains toxins called tosylamide formaldehyde resin, can cause an allergic reaction and yellow discoloration of the nail. So one should only use toxin-free nail polish that contains natural pigment in the water base and argan oil for the moisturising effects on the nail.
For preventing yellow nails, removing the nail polish with nail polish remover pads containing gamma butyrolactone is very safe and effective. In brittle nails, the surface of the nail plate is rough and weakened, and there is stripping of the nail plate. This is mainly because of the deficiency of keratin, water, and lipid content in the nail plate. It is very difficult to treat brittle nails, and they need to be treated with care. Also remember not to do any cosmetic treatments to the nails, which can further worsen the condition of the nails. Oral supplement of vitamins specifically biotin and other amino acids can be helpful in improving the nail strength,” guided Dr. Inderpreet Mahendra, who is a dermatologist at Apollo Clinic.
Moving ahead, Dr. Shireen Furtado, a cosmetic dermatologist at Aster CMI Hospital, advised, “Nails are a mirror of our health. Any changes in the body reflect on the nails! Long nails are prone to injuries and can also introduce infections to the skin when the nails are used to scratch. If you are used to filing nails, file into the smooth edges of your nails to avoid any infections. Biting your nails can increase the chances of infection and may also lead to the transmission of bacteria and viruses from your mouth to your nails.
If there is already a resident viral infection, like warts, they spread by biting. Always use hand gloves while doing activities like washing dishes or gardening to reduce the risk of damage and infection. It is advisable not to share personal hygiene tools like nail clippers and files, which can increase the chance of infection. Artificial nails or nail extensions are not advisable for nails, as they can make them thin, brittle, and parched!
Chemicals like acrylic polymers and acetone are used to apply and remove the nails, which can irritate the skin and cuticles, causing bacterial and fungal infections. The chances of getting injured during applying and removing acrylic nails are high, and the sharp edges may increase the chances of causing damage to the nails while doing day-to-day tasks; this may include the development of ridges, grooves, or other abnormalities on the nail’s surface.
Boosted by a combination of comfort, ease of use, and a growing trend on social media platforms, fake nails are in demand, and irrespective of age group or gender, artificial nails have become a rage. There is a section of users who prefer nail extensions to get rid of nail-biting habits. Nail care is an important yet overlooked element of personal hygiene. If not maintained properly, nails can be breeding grounds for bacterial and fungal infections. Well-maintained nails indicate good personal hygiene and can also improve one’s appearance. Extensive usage of artificial nails has the risk of nail deformities and may also cause the development of ridges, grooves, or other abnormalities on the nail’s surface.”
There is still an influencer who is not among the following trends for the latest nail extensions: Each to its own, Priyanka Boppana from Hyderabad shared her personal experience: “As beautiful as they are, I would still go with gel polish or nail art over artificial nails. I worry about damaging my natural nails and even the nail bed when it comes to artificial nails. This doesn’t mean I don’t keep up with seasonal trends and colours. This year we have been seeing blush colours, chrome nails, fancy french tips, and other fun trends. But spa days are great for pampering sessions.
While grooming and upkeep are quite important, manicures and nail spas do require a good amount of time and patience. Not to mention that they cost a bomb these days. I do love to indulge in nail spas and set aside time ahead of special occasions. Since we are constantly in front of the camera creating content, it’s natural to feel the need to pay attention to aesthetics. Nail extensions seem to have become a go-to as you keep up with the trends and also kind of minimise the effort of changing up the look regularly at home.”
On the contrary, another influencer from the city, Divya Pandey, is an avid consumer of nail extensions, and she shares, “I have a habit of biting my nails — that’s how I end up getting nail extensions done. It lasts for a month, but nevertheless, it’s difficult to manage them.
I love eating my food with my hands, but with these extensions on, it gets so difficult to dig into those delectable rice and curries. Or hooking on your own piece of jewellery. Oh yes, writing gets so tough! When I take them off, my nails tend to become very dry. A lot of nail salons have started to emerge in our city. They give us new ideas to try so that a girl feels fresh, fun, and exciting. But so far, we don’t have a sustainable nail spa yet.”
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