One of the most common questions pregnant women ask during their pregnancies is: “Can I get acrylic nails while pregnant?” There are many reasons why women choose to get nail extensions. For some, it’s because they want to make their nails look beautiful and more attractive. Other women want them for practical purposes like strengthening weak nails or making them longer and stronger.

If you decide to get acrylic nails while pregnant, make sure that the salon uses NSF-certified products and perform a patch test before getting them done on your entire nail bed.

But before you schedule that appointment for your acrylics, here’s some information about getting acrylic nails while pregnant.

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Can You Get Acrylic Nails Done While Pregnant?

You can get acrylic nails while pregnant. You should just be careful to ensure that the nail salon is clean and uses clean nail kits when getting your nails done. It’s also a good idea to get them done during the first trimester, as this is when most women are still able to go out and about without feeling too tired or nauseous.

If you’re thinking about getting a pedicure, but don’t want to take a chance on contracting an infection, it’s best to wait until after the first trimester of your pregnancy.

How to Safely Get Acrylic Nails While Pregnant?

It’s safe to get acrylic nails while pregnant. But there are a few things you should consider to ensure a safe experience;

Visit a Well-Ventilated Salon Early in the Day: Wear a mask while getting your nails done, and bring one for the technician. Find a salon that uses products with ethyl-methacrylate (EMA), which the FDA deems a safer alternative to methyl-methacrylate (MMA).

Know the risks of getting acrylic nails during pregnancy: Pregnant women can safely get acrylic nails, but they need to be aware of the possible risks involved. The biggest risk is the use of MMA, which is still used in many salons despite its known health effects.

Note: Methyl methacrylate is commonly used as a binding agent in nail adhesives and has been linked to miscarriages, birth defects, and cancer. It’s banned in Europe because of these concerns

Removing Acrylic Nails While Pregnant

If you want to remove your acrylic nail while pregnant, it is best to go to a salon that specializes in removing acrylics. If this is not possible, then you can try some home remedies that will help you get rid of your acrylic nails. The following are some ways to remove acrylic nails at home;

Method One: Using Acetone

• Acetone is a common ingredient in nail polish remover. It can be used to remove artificial nails, but there are some precautions that need to be followed. Acetone dries out the natural nail, so it’s important to moisturize your fingertips after removing acrylics.
• Soak cotton balls in acetone and place them on top of each fingernail for 20-30 minutes. The acetone will dissolve the acrylic quickly, but use caution when handling the cotton balls because they can burn sensitive skin if they get too close to your fingertips.
• Remove the cotton balls from each finger, using tweezers if needed, and gently scrape off any remaining nail glue with an orange stick or toothpick dipped in acetone . Repeat this process until all of the glue is removed from each finger; then move on to step four.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before applying cuticle oil , lotion or moisturizer to ensure that no residue remains.

Related Article: How Long Do You Soak Acrylic Nails in Acetone?

Method Two: Use Dental Floss

• Apply cuticle remover and massage the cuticles with a cuticle pusher or a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover. This will soften the nail plate so that it can be removed easily.
• Use an orange stick to gently pry up one corner of your acrylic nail from its base until you can see a thin strip of glue sticking off.
• Slide it back and forth while pulling gently until the entire length of glued area has been removed from under your artificial nail.

• Apply Cuticle oil

Can Acrylic Nails Cause Birth Defects?

There are a lot of rumors out there that acrylic nails can cause birth defects. The truth is that acrylic nails do not cause birth defects, but there are some risks involved.

The biggest risk when it comes to acrylics is the possible exposure to chemicals used in the process. These chemicals include formaldehyde and toluene, which are known carcinogens.

While it’s true that these chemicals pose a risk to the health of both you and your baby, it’s important to note that these risks are only present if you’re exposed to them over an extended period of time (ie: weeks or months). If you have your nails done once every few weeks and leave them on for up to two weeks, there is no risk of exposure.

Side Effects Of Having Acrylic Nails During Pregnancy

If you’re a pregnant woman, you may be considering getting acrylic nails. But before you do, here are some of the most common side effects of having acrylic nails during pregnancy:

1.Formaldehyde Exposure Can Cause Birth Defects and Miscarriages

Researchers have also found that exposure to formaldehyde can increase the risk of miscarriage by up to 40 percent compared with women who weren’t exposed to the chemical at all.

2.Allergic Reactions

Some women develop an allergy towards the chemicals used in these nail treatments, which can lead to skin irritation and rashes on their hands as well as itching around their eyes or ears. This is the case with Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde exposure can cause skin rashes and irritation. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause skin rashes and irritation on both you and your unborn baby. This can lead to itching, dryness, redness and flaking of your skin around your nails during pregnancy.

3.Fungal Infections

Fungal infections in your fingernails can occur when you wear acrylic nails for too long without removing them from time to time. If left untreated, this condition may lead to serious infections that require medical intervention.

What To Avoid At The Nail Salon While Pregnant

Nail salon visits often become a regular thing, especially if you’re pregnant. However, there are some things to avoid during your visit to ensure it’s safe for both you and your baby.

1.Acetone

Acetone is the main ingredient in nail polish remover and is considered a toxic chemical by many organizations. It can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled as well. The EPA says that at high levels, it can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory system as well as headaches, dizziness and fatigue in humans. High exposure can also cause liver damage or kidney damage in animals.

2.UV Light

Gel Nail Kits come with a UV lamp that cures the polish and dries it in minutes. The light can be very powerful and may cause harm to an unborn child if used too close to the abdomen.

It’s also important to note that some of these kits contain chemicals that could be harmful when inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Tips for Getting Your Nails Done While Pregnant

• Avoid strong chemicals such as ammonia, formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals can cause irritation or even damage your nails if they’re used too often or too much at one time.
• Choose water-based polish instead of solvent-based polish (which contains acetone). Solvent-based polishes dry faster than water-based ones but they also contain more harsh chemicals that could be harmful to a fetus if they come into contact with the skin on your hands while you’re pregnant.

Frequently Asked Question

Conclusion

While it may be okay to get acrylic nails once you are pregnant, these nails are a bit more in-depth than your typical nails, as they require laying acrylic onto your actual nails. When you have acrylic done on your nails, it actually covers your natural nail. There is potential for the chemicals that are used to pass into the bloodstream when applied, which could cause some health issues like skin irritation and allergies.

Lastly, Check with your doctor first. Talk with your doctor to make sure that getting acrylics during pregnancy is safe for you and your baby. Some doctors will give the go-ahead more easily than others, so if you’ve had a healthy pregnancy so far, chances are good that getting acrylics won’t be any problem at all.

REFERENCES

Formaldehyde allergy

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/formaldehyde-allergy

These 4 Chemicals May Pose the Most Risk for Nail Salon Workers

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/these-4-chemicals-may-pose-the-most-risk-for-nail-salon-workers/

Association between formaldehyde exposure and miscarriage in Chinese women

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5500027/