Woman who had gel manicures for years can now barely move her hands

Woman who had gel manicures for years can now barely move her hands

After numerous treatments over several years, Lisa Dewey began to experience difficulties with her beloved nail products

Lisa Dewey, a 36-year-old mother, suffered from an alleged allergy to nail products that left her hands barely functional and affected her self-confidence. She has enjoyed her routine nail treatments for many years with no previous problems.

However, in February she suffered an inflammatory reaction to gel nail application which caused her nails to separate from the nail bed. Initially she was misdiagnosed with a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics and a steroid cream.

However, after another nail treatment with acrylic paints, her condition worsened. Her hands hurt badly and her nails were severely irritated. She found basic tasks such as washing her daughter's hair, wearing a seatbelt or holding a pen to be excruciatingly difficult.

After years of treatment, Lisa Dewey had a problem for the first time at the beginning of the year
https://t.co/Bg1v77iHFG — Plymouth Live (@Plymouth_Live) May 9, 2023

Here are the facts of the story:

• Lisa, Mutter von zwei Kindern und NHS-Reinigerin aus Pattishall, Northamptonshire, war schon lange ein Fan von Acryl- und Gelnägeln.
• Als ihre Nagelerkrankung zum ersten Mal nach einer Gel-Nagelbehandlung auftrat, vermutete sie, dass es sich um eine bakterielle Infektion handelte.
• Besorgniserregenderweise begann sich ihr Nagelbett violett zu verfärben, was bei ihr Angst auslöste, sie könnte möglicherweise ihren Finger verlieren.
• Obwohl sie die Nagelbehandlungen vorübergehend abgebrochen hatte, traten ihre Probleme erneut auf, nachdem ihr Acrylnägel aufgetragen wurden.
• Ihre Haut begann sich von ihren Fingern zu lösen, was enorme Schmerzen verursachte und ihr Selbstvertrauen erheblich schwächte.

Research suggests that more and more people are facing similar problems related to nail products. According to Statista, approximately 18.1 million Americans got a manicure in 2020, with the nail care market reaching $10.14 billion in 2021.

These products, including gels and acrylics, often contain potentially harmful ingredients. For example, these products often contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, toluene, which affects the nervous system, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a reproductive and developmental toxin.

Studies like those from the Environmental Working Group highlight potential health concerns associated with prolonged use of such products. Constant exposure to these toxins can cause skin irritation, allergies, and more serious health problems.

For Lisa, even simple tasks are a challenge due to her illness. She often requires the support of her husband Lee, 45, to carry out her daily activities.

The most important topics include:

• Das Haarewaschen ihrer kleinen Tochter ist schwierig, weil sie ihre Finger beugen muss.
• Das Anschnallen ihrer Tochter im Autositz ist schmerzhaft, wenn ihr Finger aufgrund der rauen Haut am Gurt hängen bleibt.
• Alles, was parfümiert oder parfümiert ist, verschlimmert ihren Zustand, sogar Haarprodukte.

Because of this experience, Lisa decided to give up nail products altogether and passed along a warning to others. She emphasized that people can use nail products for years without side effects, only for them to suddenly appear one day. Lisa advises being careful and aware that things may not be as harmless as they seem.

For more information about the potential risks of nail products, see the FDA's Cosmetic Safety Information.

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