The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polish For Cancer Patients
The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polishes For Cancer Patients
Know what ingredients are in your nail polishes, as many contain toxic chemicals
Toxic Chemicals In Nail Polish
Cancer patients shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in biochemistry to decipher the nail polish industry’s arbitrary nontoxic ingredient code. Nearly all nail polishes available today are considered three-free, meaning they don’t contain the undoubtedly toxic formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, also known by its acronym, DBP. But polish ingredients can be absorbed through the nail bed, and the polish smells are often pungent. “A manicure a week for 50 years can really add up,” said Dr. Shyamali Singhal, “so we shouldn't take this topic lightly. This is why she took special care in selecting nail polishes that are appropriate for cancer patients and their sensitive nails.”
A Satisfying Nail Experience
In the world of beauty, the word toxins have lost most of its meaning. Same with nontoxic, because the two words don't have concrete, universal definitions. With nail polish, however, ingredients are becoming slightly more transparent. Brands have started to take note about the use of potentially harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, the notorious three chemicals known as the "big three", along with others like formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene. When a formula is free of those additives, that's when you'll see three-, five-, seven-, eight-, or nine-free written on the label. And while being mindful and using safer products is important, the trade-off shouldn't be a disappointing nail polish experience.
Harmful Chemicals Make Their Way Into The Body
The average manicure might be wreaking havoc on our nails, thanks to harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, parabens, and camphor that are the backbone of the average nail polish formula.
As it turns out, those chemicals don't just sit on top of our nail. A study from Duke University and The Environmental Working Group proves that they may even make their way into our bodies. In the study, they had women paint their nails. Afterward, they tested their levels of triphenyl phosphate (a common nail polish ingredient), and it turned out that every single woman tested positive for the chemical. Traces of these chemicals were found in tested urine up to a day after the painting of nails.
There Are Safe Alternatives
If cancer patients are looking to clean up their beauty routine, the good news is there are tons of great natural nail polishes out there that can give a gorgeous finish without the harsh ingredients that come in others, standard bottles, such as Karma Hues Organic Nail Polishes And yeah, they work really well, too. Not all nail polishes are created equal. Many formulas on the market are packed with harmful and unnecessary chemicals, which studies show can actually be absorbed into the body. This doesn't mean patients should throw out all of their favorite polish pots, but for those who prefer fewer chemicals in their manicures just to be safe, they should try out some of the brands that avoid the primary three offenders (formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate) and other unsafe ingredients, while still providing high-quality color we'll love.
What Does Five-Free, Seven-Free, etc., Mean?
Five Free
This marking means the product is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, and camphor. This is important since formaldehyde resin has not been proven to be carcinogenic like formaldehyde itself, but studies have proven that it’s allergenic. Synthetic camphor is toxic with prolonged and excessive exposure, which puts nail technicians at a higher risk of developing a reaction.
Seven Free
It doesn't contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene. Ethyl tosylamide is a plasticizer that has been banned from beauty products by the European Commission due to its antibiotic properties and potential contribution to antibiotic resistance (it’s still allowed in the United States). Xylene is a petroleum-based solvent found in paint thinner and nail polish that can cause symptoms like headaches and dizziness with short-term exposure.
Nine Free
Nine-free products are free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, and acetone. Parabens are known to be bad for us. As for acetone, it’s almost never found in nail polish but rather nail polish remover. It’s a common skin, eye, and lung irritant, and has been shown to have both neuro- and respiratory toxicity in animal studies at moderate doses.
10 Free
DBP, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), toluene, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), and/or gluten are not present in ten-free products. Ten-free formulas are also commonly made without animal-derived ingredients.
TPHP is a suspected endocrine disruptor that has been shown to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream following the nail polish application. The evidence against TBHP is a little less clear, though it has been shown to be a skin irritant with acute toxicity. There is no evidence to suggest that topical gluten application is harmful to those with celiac disease, but some people might want to avoid it in nail polish out of an abundance of caution. It’s worth noting that the more ingredients you remove from a nail polish base formulation, the more limited you are with shade and texture options. However, the performance and wear of nine- and 10-free polishes are just as good as their more chemical-y competition. Dr. Shyamali Singhal, a surgical oncologist, has been an advocate of non-toxic nail products for years. She says: “The skin around our fingers and cuticles is sensitive and absorbent, so non-toxic polishes tend to be kinder to nails, meaning less chance of drying out our nails and skin, which can cause irritation and inflammation.”
New Innovations
Innovation in the nail industry has greatly improved in recent years, with many non-toxic formulations showing no real difference in finish or wear-time to regular polishes. After testing these varnishes on application, color, durability, and shine, our results corroborated this recognition. Following these latest trends, that are in sync with all that Dr. Singhal has been trying to do in terms of helping cancer patients in their self-care, she carefully selected these polishes, specially designed for cancer patients. Try out POLYBALM, the only natural nail remedy to be scientifically designed, prepared and evaluated in a major government-backed randomized controlled trial (RCT). It contains rare plant-based waxes and biologically active essential oils which have been delicately prepared to preserve their rich polyphenolic compounds with no potential irritants such as preservatives, colors, parabens, sulfates or petroleum. It is designed to be used alongside other general nail health strategies.
