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.
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. For keratin granulation, 3 to 4 weeks will be enough time to give your nails a rest.
Remove polish every two weeks and give your nails a breather for a day or so. Or switch to light polish, which doesn't need to be changed as often since there's a lower risk of it staining your nails.
The Top 3 Toxic Chemicals in Nail Polish
Dibutyl phthalate (DnBP): Phtalates are endocrine disruptors that are linked to issues like hormone changes, diabetes, and thyroid irregularities. Toluene: has a long list of effects from eye irritation to kidney and nervous system damage. Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen.
Upon removing the polish you may discover some white spots on your nails and even some discoloration. Many of time the discoloration can actually be the beginnings of a fungal toenail infection. Studies have shown that fungus can be caused from wearing dark nail polish for too long without removing it.
Nails don't need surface access to air because they get oxygen and nutrients from your blood. Keeping nails hydrated is important if yours are prone to breakage, and a pause in polishing to moisturize would help.
Jin Soon, a NYC-based manicurist, recommends up to three coats of nail polish for full color coverage and a smooth, finished look. "If you apply more than three coats in one sitting, the application will be prone to clumping off in one piece, almost like a shell" she says.
Constant exposure to toxic nail paints and other nail care products can produce a number of health effects ranging from minor complaints like skin irritation, allergic reactions, nausea, to more serious troubles like respiratory problems, cancer and reproductive conditions.
But does nail polish help or hurt nail growth in any way? As it turns out, lacquer doesn't play a role in nail growth, but it can assist with overall nail health: It shields them: "Nail polish can act as a barrier against nails splitting or cracking.
It's a good idea to remove your toenail polish every two months or so for up to three weeks.
“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.
If after removing your toenail polish, you see these white chalky patches then in most cases it is a condition called keratin granulation. These occur from constant polish wearing. This is not a fungus but can look much like it and can trigger a fungus so it is important to treat it.
The average time for your natural nail to grow out completely from the cuticle to the tip of the nail can take anywhere from four to six months. This is a long time to refrain from manicures or using polish, so we recommend taking a three to four week break between nail appointments. What is this?
For gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures.
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.
Is dry nail polish toxic? Unfortunately, it looks like toxins from nail polish do stay in your body long after the polish dries. The chemical TPHP has been found to stay in the body several hours after using polish.
There are three main culprits found in many nail polishes: formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). These chemicals are known as the "Toxic Trio" or "Big 3".
Regular polish and gel generally have the same effect on the nails. But, the removal process is where it gets tricky. Gel polish needs to be soaked off in acetone and that can be harmful to nails and skin. In this case, yes, regular polish is safer.
You won't find Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, Xylene, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Camphor, Parabens, Ethyl Tosylamide, and TriphenylPhosphateon OPI's natural nail polish ingredient list, but one important thing to note is that while we proudly state we're 9-free, we'll never claim more than that.
The water will keep you from smudging your nails unless you use too much force, so you can remove lots of the excess this way. (Warm water is pretty much the only way I fix botched toe nail polish - it's super easy to remove the excess at the end of a shower!
Nail polish application typically involves 1 coat of base coat, 2 coats of color application to ensure full coverage, and 1 coat of top coat for long-lasting wear and shine.
“When we apply color in thick layers, the polish takes much longer to dry, and the longer it takes to dry, the more likely we are to smudge the manicure,” Candido says. Instead, apply thin, even coats and wait two minutes in between. The polish will actually dry faster.
According to Stern, there are five main signs that your nails need a rest from your weekly manicure appointments: the appearance of keratin granulation (rough and white patches on the surface of the nail), peeling, ridges and splits, discoloration, and dehydrated cuticles.