The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out, Dr. Rowland says. When that happens, fungus, yeast, bacteria, mold and mildew can develop underneath the nail plate, which can lead to long-term problems.
Nail polish can dry out your nails: TRUE
"Leaving your nail polish on for too long can dry out the nails, leaving them brittle," says Dr. Curry. "Thin, brittle nails pose a health hazard because the nail is a barrier to keep out bacteria and fungus."
Nails receive their nutrients and oxygen through your blood. While wearing nail polish all the time won't stop your nails from growing, it does damage your nail integrity. Even with blood supply, nails do still need air to “breathe”. That's why a break from nail polish every few weeks is a must.
The bad habit: Wearing polish for weeks
“This has nearly the same effect as using gel: it's going to dry out your nails,” advises Choi. “When you remove nail polish that's been left on too long, you'll often see white spots, which means your nails are too dry.”
So, unfortunately, both the polish and overall manicure process can begin to take their toll on your natural nails. It's so important to take a break every now and then to let your nails breathe, repair and grow. In order to have the best looking nails possible, you must pay close attention to their health.
“Nails do not need to 'breathe,” says Dr. Dana Stern, an NYC dermatologist and nail specialist who also has her own line of nail care products and polishes. “This is a myth! Nails receive their nutrients, oxygen, and blood supply from the blood stream and not from the air.”
Actually, the myth that your nails need to "breathe" is just that—a myth. "Nails don't actually breathe, as they get their nutrients, oxygen, and blood supply from the bloodstream, not from the air," notes Mary Lennon, president and co-founder of the clean nail care brand côte.
Overall, Dip Powder Manicures are a great way to get a healthy manicure that will protect and strengthen your nails without causing any damage. Just like any nail treatment, you do have to make sure you properly remove it to keep your nails safe and healthy – Don't pick at your manicure!
Wearing regular nail polish isn't going to harm your healthy nails (although you probably should give your nails a break on the polish periodically.) However, applying gel or acrylic nails requires the use of direct UV light onto your skin, which is known to cause skin cancer.
When you keep polish on for a long time, the keratin granulation can cause white patches and surface irregularities to appear on the nail, notes Stern. Basically, too much polish and remover strips the superficial layers of the nail, leaving a roughed-up mess.
Regular nail polish lasts for around 18 to 24 months on average, whereas gel nail polish lasts for around 24 to 36 months, with unopened bottles lasting the longest.
It's typically 12M or 24M for polishes in my experience, so 12 months/24 months after opening, the product should be discarded. Make a note of the date opened, and when it's reached this date it should be thrown away."
"I wouldn't go over three coats because you run the risk of over polishing, which looks really heavy and juvenile," Washick says. "You also run a better chance of streaking as you paint and smudging as you dry."
"It helps your cuticles, keeps your hands and nails hydrated, and works better than callus removal if you put it on your feet and wear socks overnight," says Nguyen. "The best part is that it's affordable and probably already in your medicine cabinet!" she adds.
A Shellac manicure is great for someone who wants to reduce damage to their nail, as shellac polishes are super easy to remove—no nail drill needed. Regular nail polish takes a long time to dry and gel can sometimes lead to damage if removed incorrectly—a shellac manicure is your happy medium.
Formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene can also cause allergic contact dermatitis. Camphor is an oil that has been long used as a topical remedy for various conditions, but can be toxic if consumed by mouth. Studies have shown that chemicals in nail polish can be absorbed into the body.
Bottom line: Your nails need to breathe. “Constant use of polish, even non-toxic polish, can weaken the nail,” says Dr. Solomon. If you find that your nails have become especially fragile (and they're painted more often than not), give them a month off from nail polish to allow them to grow and strengthen.
Nail tissue is already dead by the time it is long enough to paint, so painting will not affect growth. It is also a myth that applying vitamins directly to the nails can help them grow. These remedies are unlikely to help. At best, they strengthen the nail and prevent it from breaking.
Your best bet is to clean off the old polish after a week and repaint your nails. The one great thing about lacquer is that it's the least damaging to your nails. If you use an acetone-free remover, you can change the polish every week. No break is needed unless you want to.
However, professionals suggest leaving two to three weeks between each manicure and pedicure is ideal for keeping your nails in the best shape. Within this time frame, your nails and cuticles will begin to dry and grow jagged. Most nail varnishes or coats will also begin to chip away.
Dermatologists recommend rubbing petroleum jelly, vitamin E, or cuticle creams into your cuticles at night. Applying a moisturizing cream or a hand balm to the nails on a daily basis will help keep them moist. And moisturizing products that contain urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid will help prevent cracking.
But depending on how many coats of nail polish are applied (one coat will dry faster than two to three or more), it can take up to two hours for nails to completely air dry. (To be safe, if your mani or pedi is in the evening, pros advise waiting this long for your polish to dry before bed, too.)