Sudden allergy to BIAB nails :(

[Lndnmummy]

Anyone else? Have you managed to find any products that you are able to use? I am gutted

And now Sali Hughes promotes The Gel Bottle BIAB in her Guardian column, without any mention of the risk of systemic allergy.

This needs more coverage. The manufacturers certainly aren't going to do it unless forced.

I feel your pain OP- I developed a nasty allergy to gel nails about a year ago and every one of my nails was lifting away from the bed. I had been going to the same (very reputable) place for many years so was shocked when it happened. Luckily they are healthy again now but it took a good 3 months or so.

I occasionally use regular nail polish but have had to get used to them being bare most of the time….it took me months to not feel mortified every time I caught sight of my hands but I actually quite like the bare nail look now. Booked in with a consultant dermatologist to make sure the allergy is on my medical records and would recommend doing this if you can.

Thank you to everyone who posted on this thread. Ii saw that Harriet West Moreland has become an ambassador for the gel bottle and I was gutted to read it. I adore her and her work but just feel so disappointed. TGB should not be getting away with this. Enormous consequences that go way beyond nails. I can't believe they are still allowed to trade.

I would really urge anyone out there to be super careful. I am about 3 weeks in now and slowly healing. It has been an incredibly painful few weeks.

Wow, that surprises me. Not that I know much about her current work, but just considering that she's had personal experience of a serious allergy to hair dye; I remember her writing about it years ago. She took a pretty firm line on how important it was to be super careful because it could potentially cause so much harm. Made a big impression on me because I was young and reckless and never used to bother with patch tests.

It seems unlikely she's unaware of this issue but maybe she doesn't buy that it's a significant risk?

I brought it up conversationally at the salon last time I went (gel pedicure; I was totally fine but it's the only one I've had in recent years, and I'm not planning on booking any more). They were very hand-wavy about it as a wider problem.

Oh she absolutely knows, @WhichOfThePickwickTripletsDidIt. It has been covered so widely. And she's in no position to dismiss medics warning that it has very serious implications:

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/gel-nails-news-side-effects-allergies-b2320587.html

Sali Hughes is just another influencer now. Think she gave up her claims to independence and honesty ages ago tbh. It's indefensible but it pays well, for now.

Yes of course she know. Its not great from a credibility point of view. I really rate her though and think she provides excellent advice. Disappointing that she did not reference it though, as an allergy sufferer herself. This allergy is especially troublesome as it can have such wide reaching consequences for medical scenarios as well as dentistry.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/gel-nails-news-side-effects-allergies-b2320587.html

Just checking in again to ask if anyone has found anything that works for them. Dip nails for example?

Might be worth a look?

Anyone using the nail wraps? http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/styleandd_beauty/4987561-anyone-using-the-nail-wraps

My nails separated from nail bed and nail bed have developed a growth of hard keratin like surface which is protruding and preventing new nails from growing. Sent scrapings off via gp but not had and Tranent yet. This was from biab reaction apparently, done by a professional who I've had doing my nails for 2 years

OMG, @Toxicnails, that is awful. Did it happen gradually and you didn't notice much so kept getting them done, or quite quickly?

It seems like the 'oh it's from gels applied incorrectly at home' is rubbish put out by the industry trying to protect their income. Although possibly nadequately cured gels are an additional risk factor.

It's absolutely disgraceful that nothing has been done to address this. From what I've read, it's because the levels of HEMA (or analogous chemical) have been increased without thought for safety.

@Toxicnails oh my goodness I am so sorry..💔

I am allergic to gels and also had seperation. Luckily my natural nails grew back. I am using Glamrdip now. I do them myself with very good results. My nails are now long and the dip lasts for about 3 weeks with no chips etc. They have loads of lovely colours. Does take me a couple of hours to do them and removal takes patience. I can highly recommend tho!

I had an allergic reaction to nail dips and now use nail stickers from Lilly and fox.

Thought I'd update as I have spent a stupid amount of headspace on this. Having trialled and errored loads (dont do it) I have realised that I can use dip powder but I have to be extremely careful