HELP! Suddenly allergic to gel polish

[litttlepurplecaravan]

I have been doing my own gel nails for years, I always use either mylee or blue sky polishes and cure with a led uv lamp.

I've never had any issues, until November/December just gone.

Out of nowhere my fingers started to swell and go red and itchy around the cuticle area and my eyes swell up and get really itchy.

This only ever happens within a few hours of doing my nails.

I usually do them once a fortnight, so I wouldn't say it's excessive use, and I am always careful not to get it on my skin. And as I say, no issues atall until November time.

Any ideas why this has suddenly happened? And any suggestions for products that might be more sensitive and not have some kind of allergen in that I might have suddenly become allergic to?

It can happen to anyone with any brand but is much more likely to happen to someone doing their own nails at home, using brands that are questionable (the reputable ones only sell to professionals). Do you have brand specific curing lamps for example and what are the hema levels of those gels? (although hema isn't the only thing to be aware of from what I gather.)

Glitterbels are a really good hema free brand but they only sell to qualified nail techs.

I too am allergic to gel polish. There is no solution, it’s bare nails all day long now. Be very careful if you are considering still using it. The chemicals in gel polishes are the same as some chemicals in newer dental fillings, so there has been cases of people having an allergic reaction to their fillings as a result.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65273991

I suddenly became allergic after 15 years + use of acrylics and gel nails. My fingers became swollen and itchy and I developed onycholysis where the nail lifts from the nail bed and the skin thickens underneath. I can't use any products now as they contain acrylates and that is mostly what is the cause of the allergic reaction. I am still looking for a solution as I really liked having my nails done all the time.

My salon offers "Gelcare" brand which is supposedly free from some of the nasties, but I'm not sure if its suitable for cases where an allergy is confirmed. Your're probably best talking with a reputable salon and seeing what they advise

I've stopped doing my nails as I keep reading about sudden reactions and I'm not prepared to risk it. It sounds awful .