Caution: health risks in the nail salon – you should pay attention to
Beware of the cheap-chemical methyl methacrylate
Nail salons springing up like mushrooms out of the ground. Around 60,000 Studios in Germany offer their services. Business is booming and the competition among offers with ever cheaper Offers. The crux of the matter: in Order to open a nail Studio, or to work in such no training is required. Each of the trades licensing office a certificate, and get started immediately. Even more important is to ensure, as a client or customer in such transactions on a few things, so the nail care is the health risk.
The Federal Institute for risk assessment (BfR) warns of a harmful chemical that is applied in many nail salons. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a cheap component, which is used in the modelling of artificial finger nails. Often nail salons rely on this chemical to reduce the cost of the treatment. The BfR warns that MMA can cause contact allergies and cross-allergies that result in later medical and dental treatments to serious complications.
Life-long allergies threaten
According to the BfR by the contact with methyl the risk of a life-long sensitization to MMA, as well as an additional risk for the development of a cross-sensitisation to other acrylate Compounds, methacrylate. Customers of nail salons that use MMA, can come with this substance, in contact. A contact can come about either when Applying artificial finger nails, or by inhalation of abrasion.
Why is a methyl methacrylate-is Allergy dangerous?
Methyl methacrylate can also cause Non-allergic irritation to the skin and respiratory tract. In sensitized individuals, allergic reactions can occur, which can range from a burning, itchy rash and swelling on the formation of pustules, blisters and hives to allergic Asthma. It comes to a cross-Allergy react to be Concerned against a variety of acrylate Compounds are allergic. This can lead to BfR to severe complications in medical treatments, because such Compounds are frequently used in medicine, for example:
- ECG electrodes,
- Insulin pumps,
- Hearing AIDS,
- Hyaluronic acid-based facial implants,
- Dental implants,
- The knee implants.
Federal Institute recommends tougher measures
“Nail model layers are methacrylate with a high concentration of methyl as a serious health risk classified,” writes Dr. Bettina Huhse, in an opinion of the BfR. The Institute recommends appropriate measures for the protection of the consumer and take the consumer, such as, for example, warnings and restricted distribution only to professional users. Currently, MMA is freely available to all. In other countries such as the United States and Canada, the threat to health was prohibited substances already.
Caution with a pungent odor
MMA is causing a pungent smell. Smells like a nail salon should be strongly to chemicals, asked if methyl methacrylate is used. In the case of very cheap Offers, you should be skeptical, because MMA is much cheaper than non-toxic substitutes. (vb)
