TOPLINE: 

A review found that gel and acrylic manicures were commonly associated with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), nail dystrophy, and other dermatologic conditions, particularly in at-home users and those exposed to acrylates and methacrylates.

METHODOLOGY:

• To investigate adverse outcomes associated with different manicure types, researchers conducted a literature review of 58 articles published from 2014 to 2025.
• Studies on gel, acrylic, and miscellaneous manicure types were included.
• Most were case reports.

TAKEAWAY:

• ACD was the most common adverse outcome associated with gel manicures, reported in nearly half of the articles that discussed gel manicures; fingertip dermatitis, onycholysis, pseudo-psoriatic nails, and urticaria were also among the most prevalent adverse outcomes associated with gel manicures.
• The most common adverse events associated with acrylic manicures were ACD (reported in 60% of articles discussing gel manicures), pseudo-psoriatic nails, worn down nail syndrome, onychomycosis, onycholysis, and periungual eczema.
• At-home manicures, the presence of acrylates and isocyanates, and use of ultraviolet light were commonly associated with adverse events.

IN PRACTICE:

“With the increased popularity of manicures, awareness of possible complications of different types of manicures prompts appropriate patient education,” the authors wrote. “As a result of the increased enthusiasm for manicures and more abrasive techniques for longevity,” they noted, “it is important to investigate adverse outcomes associated with different manicure types to improve counseling and management for these patients.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Kiran Javaid, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, New Jersey, and was published online on October 21 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Limited data was available on the frequency, and many articles were case reports with small sample sizes.

DISCLOSURES:

The authors received no specific funding or conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.