Ingredients found in the nail cosmetic industry, including but not limited to methacrylate and acrylate monomers, formaldehyde, and toluene sulfonamide-formaldehyde resin, can incite allergic contact dermatitis. An eczematous outbreak presents on areas surrounding the nail plate and may spread through contact transfer of the allergen, commonly to the face and neck. Even components that were originally deemed nonsensitizing, such as the ubiquitous cyanoacrylate adhesive family, have been found to be allergenic. They do not, however, cross-react with methacrylates and acrylates. Alternative options for individuals with allergic contact dermatitis reactions to these ingredients can be avoidance of these procedures or use of products that are “3, 4, 5 free” in which the common allergens dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde are absent. In cases where strengthening of the nail is the sole purpose, nail wraps or preformed nails can be applied for non–cyanoacrylate-sensitive individuals.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Castanedo-TardanMP, ZugKA. Allergic contact dermatitis. In: GoldsmithLA, KatzSI, GilchrestBA, et al, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012.
2.
EnglishJS.Current concepts of irritant contact dermatitis. Occup Environ Med, 2004; 61(8):722–726.
3.
de GrootAC, WeylandJW, NaterJP. Nail cosmetics. In: Unwanted Effects of Cosmetics and Drugs Used in Dermatology. 3rd ed. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Elsevier; 1994:524–529.
4.
de GrootAC, BruynzeelDP, BosJD, et al.The allergens in cosmetics. Arch Dermatol, 1988; 124(10):1525–1529.
5.
TostiA, GuerraL, VincenziC, et al.Contact sensitization caused by toluene sulfonamide-formaldehyde resin in women who use nail cosmetics. Am J Contact Dermat, 1993; 4(3):150–153.
6.
ScherRK.Cosmetics and ancillary preparations for the care of nails. Composition, chemistry, and adverse reactions. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1982; 6(4 pt 1):523–528.
7.
GiorginiS, BrusiC, FrancalanciS, et al.Prevention of allergic contact dermatitis from nail varnishes and hardeners. Contact Dermatitis, 1994; 31(5):325–326.
8.
de GrootAC.Contact allergy to cosmetics: causative ingredients. Contact Dermatitis, 1987; 17(1):26–34.
9.
KumarP, PauloseR. Patch testing in suspected allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics. Dermatol Res Pract, 2014; 2014:695387.
MontgomeryR, StocksSJ, WilkinsonSM. Contact allergy resulting from the use of acrylate nails is increasing in both users and those who are occupationally exposed. Contact Dermatitis, 2016; 74(2):120–122.
12.
UterW, GeierJ. Contact allergy to acrylates and methacrylates in consumers and nail artists—data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology, 2004–2013. Contact Dermatitis, 2015; 72(4):224–228.
13.
KanervaL, EstlanderT. Allergic onycholysis and paronychia caused by cyanoacrylate nail glue, but not by photobonded methacrylate nails. Eur J Dermatol, 2000; 10(3):223–225.
14.
ScheersC, AndréJ, NegulescuM, et al.Recurrent cheilitis and lip oedema caused by (meth)acrylates present in ultraviolet-curable nail lacquer. Contact Dermatitis, 2015; 72(5):341–342.
15.
RocheE, de la CuadraJ, AlegreV. Sensitization to acrylates caused by artificial acrylic nails: review of 15 cases. Actas Dermosifiliogr, 2008; 99(10):788–794. Accessed November24, 2016.
16.
LazarovA.Sensitization to acrylates is a common adverse reaction to artificial fingernails. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2007; 21(2):169–174.
17.
TostiA, RapacchialeS, PiracciniBM, et al.Occupational airborne contact dermatitis due to ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Contact Dermatitis, 1991; 24(2):152–153.
18.
UsatineRP, RiojasM. Diagnosis and management of contact dermatitis. Am Fam Physician, 2010; 82(3):249–255.
19.
BourkeJ, CoulsonI, EnglishJ, et al.Guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis: an update. Br J Dermatol, 2009; 160(5):946–954.
20.
MowadCM, AndersonB, ScheinmanP, et al.Allergic contact dermatitis: patient diagnosis and evaluation. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2016; 74(6):1029–1040.
21.
WarshawEM, MaibachHI, TaylorJS, et al.North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch test results: 2011–2012. Dermatitis; 26(1):49–59.
22.
BickersDR, ParrishJ, FitzpatrickT, et al.Position paper—PUVA therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1983; 8(2):265–270.
23.
CovenTR, WaltersIB, CardinaleI, et al.PUVA-induced lymphocyte apoptosis: mechanism of action in psoriasis. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed, 1999; 15(1):22–27.
24.
JensenL, StensgaardA, AndersenKE. Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) soaks and UVB TL01 treatment for chronic hand dermatoses. Dermatol Rep, 2012; 4(1):e3.
25.
WalterJF, KelseyWH, VoorheesJJ, et al.Psoralen plus black light inhibits epidermal DNA synthesis. Arch Dermatol, 1973; 107(6):861–865.
26.
TakahashiA, KirstA, HeinrichU, et al.Evaluation of a barrier repair cream containing pseudo-ceramide for practical use by hairdressers with hand skin disorders due to daily exposure to chemical irritants. J Cosmet Dermatological Sci Appl, 2013; 3(4):263–270.
27.
KatsarouA, ArmenakaM, VosyniotiV, et al.Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% in the treatment of allergic contact eyelid dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2009; 23(4):382–387.
28.
OrtonDI, WilkinsonJD. Cosmetic allergy: incidence, diagnosis, and management. Am J Clin Dermatol, 2004; 5(5):327–337.
29.
ThyssenJP, LinnebergA, MennéT, et al.The epidemiology of contact allergy in the general population—prevalence and main findings. Contact Dermatitis, 2007; 57(5):287–299.
PeiserM, TralauT, HeidlerJ, et al.Allergic contact dermatitis: epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, in vitro methods and regulatory aspects. Current knowledge assembled at an international workshop at BfR, Germany. Cell Mol Life Sci, 2012; 69(5):763–781.
32.
DiepgenTL, CoenraadsPJ. The epidemiology of occupational contact dermatitis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 1999; 72(8):496–506.
33.
BeltraniVS, BernsteinIL, CohenDE, et al.Contact dermatitis: a practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2006; 97:S1–S38.
DraelosZD, ed. A problem oriented approach to fingernail issues. In: Cosmetics and Dermatologic Problems and Solutions. 3rd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2011:254–259.
36.
GoossensA.Contact-allergic reactions to cosmetics. J Allergy (Cairo), 2011; 2011:467071.
37.
CozCJ, BottlaenderA, ScrivenerJ-N, et al.Photocontact dermatitis from ketoprofen and tiaprofenic acid: cross-reactivity study in 12 consecutive patients. Contact Dermatitis, 1998; 38(5):245–252.
38.
ChowdhuryMM, StathamBN. Allergic contact dermatitis from dibutyl phthalate and benzalkonium chloride in timodine cream. Contact Dermatitis, 2002; 46(1):57.
39.
FisherJS, MacphersonS, MarchettiN, et al.Human “testicular dysgenesis syndrome”: a possible model using in-utero exposure of the rat to dibutyl phthalate. Hum Reprod, 2003; 18(7):1383–1394.
40.
OhtaniH, MiuraI, IchikawaY. Effects of dibutyl phthalate as an environmental endocrine disruptor on gonadal sex differentiation of genetic males of the frog Rana rugosa. Environ Health Perspect, 2000; 108(12):1189–1193.
41.
SainioE-L, EngströmK, Henriks-EckermanM-L, et al.Allergenic ingredients in nail polishes. Contact Dermatitis, 1997; 37(4):155–162.
42.
LazarP, O'QuinnSE, KennedyCB, et al.Reactions to nail hardeners. Arch Dermatol, 1966; 94(4):446.
43.
AdamsRM, MaibachHI. A five-year study of cosmetic reactions. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1985; 13(6):1062–1069.
44.
RosenzweigR, ScherR. Nail cosmetics: adverse reactions. Am J Contact Dermat, 1993; 4(2):71–77.
45.
LeeHN, PokornyCD, LawS, et al.Cross-reactivity among epoxy acrylates and bisphenol F epoxy resins in patients with bisphenol A epoxy resin sensitivity. Am J Contact Dermat, 2002; 13(3):108–115.
LudwigE, HausenBM. Sensitivity to isopropyl alcohol. Contact Dermatitis, 1977; 3(5):240–244.
48.
García-GavínJ, LissensR, TimmermansA, et al.Allergic contact dermatitis caused by isopropyl alcohol: a missed allergen?. Contact Dermatitis, 2011; 65(2):101–106.
49.
SachseMM, JunghansT, RoseC, et al.Allergic contact dermatitis caused by topical 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate. Contact Dermatitis, 2013; 68(5):317–319.
50.
BelsitoDV.Contact dermatitis to ethyl-cyanoacrylate-containing glue. Contact Dermatitis, 1987; 17(4):234–236.
51.
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Methacrylic Acid. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; 1998.
52.
SassevilleD.Acrylates in contact dermatitis. Dermatitis, 2012; 23(1):6–16.
53.
DruckerAM, PrattMD. Acrylate contact allergy: patient characteristics and evaluation of screening allergens. Dermatitis, 2011; 22(2):98–101.
54.
Aalto-KorteK, Henriks-EckermanML, KuulialaO, et al.Occupational methacrylate and acrylate allergy—cross-reactions and possible screening allergens. Contact Dermatitis, 2010; 63(6):301–312.
55.
MaioP, CarvalhoR, AmaroC, et al.Allergic contact dermatitis from sculptured acrylic nails: special presentation with an airborne pattern. Dermatol Rep, 2012; 4(1):e6.
56.
DahlinJ, BerneB, DunérK, et al.Several cases of undesirable effects caused by methacrylate ultraviolet-curing nail polish for non-professional use. Contact Dermatitis, 2016; 75(3):151–156.
57.
TakiK, NakamuraT. Effects of curing conditions and formulations on residual monomer contents and temperature increase of a model UV gel nail formulation. J Cosmet Dermatological Sci Appl, 2011; 1:111–118.
58.
BrysonPH.Colored nail cosmetics and hardeners. In: DraelosZD, ed. Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 2015:223.
59.
KanervaL.Cross-reactions of multifunctional methacrylates and acrylates. Acta Odontol Scand, 2001; 59(5):320–329.
60.
Food and Drug Administration seizure actions. FDA Consum, 1974; 8:37.
FisherAA.Cross reactions between methyl methacrylate monomer and acrylic monomers presently used in acrylic nail preparations. Contact Dermatitis, 1980; 6(5):345–347.
63.
RietschelRL, FowlerJF, FisherAA. Preservatives and vehicles in cosmetics and toiletries. In: RietschelRL, FowlerJF, eds. Fisher's Contact Dermatitis. 6th ed. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: PMPH-USA; 2008:306.
64.
KanervaL, LauermaA, JolankiR, et al.Methyl acrylate: a new sensitizer in nail lacquer. Contact Dermatitis, 1995; 33(3):203–204.
