Abstract
Many ingredients found within nail cosmetic products are capable of sensitizing patients’ immune systems and causing contact dermatitis (CD). These include but are not limited to tosylamide, (meth)acrylates, and formaldehyde. A clear temporal relationship between nail cosmetic procedures and an eczematous outbreak on the hands, face, or other ectopic body regions can be a key indicator of CD secondary to nail cosmetic exposure. Once an inciting allergen is identified through patch testing, elimination and avoidance becomes a mainstay of treatment alongside the use of emollients and topical anti-inflammatory therapies. Patients should be counselled to approach future nail cosmetic products and procedures with caution and careful attention to ingredients, regardless of whether or not it has a “hypoallergenic” label.
Highlights
The classic clinical presentation of contact dermatitis (CD) associated with nail cosmetic use
The diagnosis of CD secondary to nail cosmetic use can often be made through a confirmed by patch testing, treatment and counselling may begin in the interim thorough patient history and physical exam, with special attention paid to the temporal with a strong clinical suspicion of CD
Patch testing is the standard diagnostic and confirmatory test for determining causative typically present 7–10 days after first/current exposure to the allergen, whereas ICD will allergens in ACD and has both a sensitivity and specificity around 70–80% [30]
Summary
While many of the products used to achieve this look have been shown to be relatively safe, there are several complications associated with their use These complications include mechanical and traumatic complications, infection, exposure to carcinogenic ultraviolet (UV) radiation (used to cure and set gel nail polish), and contact dermatitis (CD) [4]. CD, which can be further divided into allergic (ACD; 20% of cases) and irritant CD (ICD; 80% of cases), is an immune reaction that occurs in response to external compounds This causative relationship between nail cosmetic products and CD has been well documented for over 50 years [5,6,7]. In the current narrative review article, we will discuss the most common causative ingredients, clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of contact dermatitis secondary to nail cosmetics
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