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Healthy Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Saba Mirza
Written By Saba Mirza
Sameena Begum
Reviewed By Sameena Begum
Dr. Syed Imtiaz
Medical Reviewed By Dr. Syed Imtiaz
Published March 17, 2024
Last Updated November 9, 2026
This article is part of Healthy Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Tips For Healthy Nails:

Tips For Healthy Nails: A gel manicure remains a beautiful and hard-wearing nail treatment, but it can make nails unhealthy. Moreover, the request for gel on nails may result in their breakability, peeling, and cracking. Furthermore, frequent gel manicures can lead to skin cancer and early aging of the hand skin. The following remain skin doctor suggestions that help keep your nails healthy before, during, or after a gel manicure.

Although gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails. Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking, and repeated use can increase the risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands.

To Keep Your Nails Healthy Before, During, And After Gel Manicures, Dermatologists

Recommend The Following Tips:

Nails Healthy

Be proactive with your manicurist. Take a look around to make sure that tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client. Another thing, do not let your manicurist push or cut your cuticle because this might bring about inflammation and infection.

You may opt for a traditional nail varnish instead of gel polish. It is important when you have persistent nail issues or are allergic to acetone, because that substance must be used to eliminate gel polish.

Wear sunscreen. Before getting a gel manicure, put on a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher on your hands to help prevent skin damage and premature aging. Regular sun protection is also important for maintaining an even skin tone. You can learn more about how to remove suntan and protect your skin from further sun exposure. Plus, it will help protect yours. Another option remains to wear dark, opaque gloves with the fingertips cut off before applying nail polish. Don’t choose gel nail polish.

Do not touch the polish or use other nails or tools to remove it when the color comes off. Instead, make an appointment with your manicurist to remove your polish. Soak only the fingertips in acetone. When removing nail polish, dip only your fingertips in acetone rather than your entire hand or fingers to protect nearby skin.

An additional option remains to use cotton balls to remove the polish. Soak cotton balls in acetone and apply them to your nails by packaging small pieces of aluminum foil around your fingertips. This will ensure that only your nails come into contact

your nails come into contact with the acetone. After about 15 minutes, the nail polish should come right off.

Dermatologists Recommend The Following: – Tips For Healthy Nails

Take a nail polish holiday. Try not to wear nail polish for one to two weeks or longer. It will allow your nails time to repair.

Rehydrate your nails. Apply a moisturizing product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times between polishes. It will minimize brittleness and help prevent your nails from chipping. Just as nail care helps maintain healthy hands, choosing suitable skincare treatments can improve your facial appearance. Explore different types of facial to understand the options available for different skin needs.

As with most things, restraint remains the key to gel manicures. Consider getting a gel manicure for special occasions only. Also, see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any unusual changes to your nails or have a persistent nail problem. For people who need structured medical support, learning about the benefits of partial hospitalization can provide an introduction to another level of healthcare.

Gel Manicure: Long-Lasting But Problematic For Health

Problematic For Health

In that case, the time spent at the salon to get your nails professionally done will be limited. Finally, manual and footwork, also known as hand and foot work, gets rich in time during this fast-paced life cycle.

For the same reason, many women find it convenient to do their nails with gel polishes, which last between two and three weeks. These enamels also dry, thanks to the help of an ultraviolet (UV) lamp quickly. The drawback is that it removes gel polish. Soak nails in acetone for 10 to 15 minutes, as they are very difficult to remove. But it’s not healthy to soak your nails, cuticles and fingernails in acetone for so long, especially if you do it frequently.

Dermatologists at the American Society of Dermatology are also concerned about the rise of gel polish. In a recent statement, they warn about the risks of doing nails with these enamels. “The nails dry and break, and the risk of developing skin cancer increases to the extent that it remains frequently done.” The latter is because a UV light lamp remains used to “cure” the gel, a risk factor for developing nail melanoma, a type of skin cancer that is difficult to treat.

Of course, getting a gel manicure or pedicure sporadically isn’t going to give you cancer, but you should always do it in moderation. In addition, several women agree that although the color on their nails lasts longer when they remain removed, they feel weak and brittle. Tips For Healthy Nails

If You Decide To Get A Gel Manicure, Keep In Mind The Following Tips

Get gel manicures occasionally to allow your nails to grow and have time to heal.

When getting a gel manicure, put a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your hands to reduce the risk of damage from UV light exposure during the gel polish “healing” process.

Instruct the person doing your manicure not to touch your cuticle, as this can increase the risk of infection and inflammation. In addition, this contributes to the nails drying out.

When removing the nail polish – Tips For Healthy Nails

Do not dip your fingers or hands in the chemical—only the nails, which is strictly necessary.

Apply a moisturizer to your nails several times a day to prevent them from drying out and breaking.

If you notice changes in your nails (changes you haven’t done before, unusual) or any problems with or around your nails, see a dermatologist. Remember, your health is more important than your fitness. If you want to show off beautiful nails, you can do so with traditional, less damaging nail polish. And you can make it any color you want.

Saba Mirza
Written By

Saba Mirza

Health & Wellness Content Writer
3+ Years Experience

Saba Mirza is a Health & Wellness Content Writer at Super Healthiness with more than 3 years of content writing experience. She creates clear, accessible and reader-focused content covering health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, personal care and healthy lifestyle topics.

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Sameena Begum
Reviewed By

Sameena Begum

Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Content Reviewer
8 Years Experience

Sameena Begum is a Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Content Reviewer at Super Healthiness with 8 years of content and editorial experience. She reviews selected articles for clarity, structure, consistency, appropriate context and overall reader usefulness.

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Dr. Syed Imtiaz
Medical Reviewed By

Dr. Syed Imtiaz

General Physician and Dermatologist
5+ Years Experience MBBS and MD

Dr. Syed Imtiaz is a qualified medical professional with MBBS and MD qualifications and 5+ years of experience in the medical field. He works as a General Physician and Dermatologist and serves as a Medical Reviewer at Super Healthiness, reviewing health-related content for medical accuracy, appropriate context, clarity and responsible presentation.

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