Nail Polish During Pregnancy – Is It Safe to Use?

Making conscious efforts to look good and groom yourself in the happy phase of pregnancy is sure to keep you positive and cheerful. But, in today’s day and age of highly chemical beauty products, a critical awareness of safe and unsafe products is very important. Recent reports have claimed that certain nail polishes are harmful to the growing baby when used during pregnancy. This has led to confusion among many women about the safety aspects of painting nails while pregnant. This article clarifies all the facts about using nail polish during pregnancy and also gives some safety tips to follow while using them.

Can You Use Nail Polish During Pregnancy?

The use of nail polish during pregnancy is safe if used occasionally and with the least possible chance of ingesting it. There is no evidence of nail polish-related adverse reactions in pregnancy reported till now. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has categorised some chemicals in nail polish and in nail enamel removers to be unsafe and associated with some skin infections, poisoning and other consequential complications.

Thus, nail polish for pregnant women is safe as well as unsafe.

Chemicals Used in Nail Polish

Some chemicals used in nail polishes are reported to have harmful effects on the body. It is particularly unsafe when a developing foetus comes in contact with it. The common important chemicals used are:

1. Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a hardener used in most nail polishes (1). If inhaled, it can irritate the nose, eyes, and throat. The mother’s body breaks down this chemical if it is accidentally ingested, making it relatively low-risk for the developing baby. Exposure to formaldehyde during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, spontaneous abortion, and congenital malformations (2).
2. Toluene: Toluene in nail polish gives it a very smooth texture. Inhaling this chemical can cause irritation of throat, lungs and eyes and high exposure can affect the nervous system of the developing baby. According to a 2022 study published in Pediatrics, Hydranencephaly (HE) is a rare congenital neurological disorder that developed in an infant due to maternal occupational exposure to toluene and continued throughout the pregnancy (3).
3. Dibutyl phthalate: Dibutyl phthalate (DnBP) is another chemical used in some nail polishes that has a similar effect to formaldehyde and toluene. It offers chip resistance benefits in nail polish (4). Care must be taken to avoid such chemicals while buying nail polish.

Which Nail Polish Is Safe to Use?

There are many nail polishes available in the market that do not contain these toxic chemicals: formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DnBP), and methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) (5). Pregnancy-safe nail polish can be chosen after confirming the absence of any of these chemicals, which should be written on the label.

Safety Tips to Use Nail Paints While Pregnant

To avoid the ill effects of nail polish, you can follow some of these precautions.

• Use nail polishes occasionally.
• Select and use a nail polish that does not contain any toxic chemicals.
• Try to use acetone-free nail paint removers.
• While applying nail polish, keep the doors and windows open to let out the vapours and a strong smell coming from them.
• Dry the polish by keeping the arms away from the body.
• Wash the hands with soap to remove any residue stuck in the hand.
• If there is any accidental spillage, then avoid the area.
• Use preferably only one coat of nail polish.
• If you observe the nail polish peel away quicker than usual, avoid using it as there are chances of ingesting it.

Can You Use Nail Polish Remover?

The next important question that women have is that, “Is nail polish remover safe during the first trimester of pregnancy?”

Nail polish removers are generally safe, and they contain acetone in them. Acetone is present in our body and around us and does not cause any harmful effects when used occasionally.

Can You Wear Nail Polish During Labour or for a Planned C-Section?

Although it is harmless to wear nail polish during labour, some hospitals do not permit it. The medical reasons behind it are that nail polish can sometimes increase the chances of infection and can also decrease the visibility of any blue discolouration in the nail caused by lack of oxygen.

FAQs

1. How can I have a safe manicure and pedicure during pregnancy?

If you are a nail technician, make use of protective gloves and face masks mandatorily when working with chemicals of nail polish while pregnant. Avoid handling tasks with heavy chemical exposure during pregnancy, so you can ask others to  perform that task for you. If you love getting your nails done, then opt for chemical-free, odour-free, vegan-friendly, and water-based nail paints manufactured in the UK or EU.

2. Which nail polish brands are safe during pregnancy?

To enjoy colourful nails during pregnancy, you can opt for 8-free (Toluene, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), Ethyl tosylamide, and Xylene), 10-free, and 13-free nail polishes.

3. What preventive measures can be taken to keep yourself safe during pregnancy while enjoying an occasional nail paint?

There are certain precautions that you can take to ensure the safety while using nail polish in pregnancy:

• Opt for chemical-free (8-free, 10-free, or 13-free) nail polishes.
• Paint your nails on special occasions only to minimise chemical exposure.
• Keep your hands away from your mouth so you don’t inhale any fumes while the nail paint dries.
• Blowing on the nail polish to dry it out will only make you inhale the fumes. Better to avoid it. 
• Open windows while your nail polish is drying.

Although the safety of using nail polish during pregnancy can look like a trivial issue, it has its own side effects on the mother’s body. The limited use of safe nail colours can go a long way toward preventing any complications.

References/Resources:

1. Nail Care Products; FDA; https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/nail-care-products

2. Amiri A, Pryor E, Rice M, Downs CA, Turner-Henson A, Fanucchi MV. Formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs.; PubMed; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25919211/; May-June 2015

3. Aydin. B, et al.; Hydranencephaly in a newborn due to occupational toluene exposure during pregnancy: a case report; Acute and Critical Care; https://www.accjournal.org/journal/view.php?number=1390; July 2022

4. EVALUATION OF NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED IN
ANNEX XVII TO REGULATION (EC) NO 1907/2006 (REACH); ECHA; https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17233/dbp_echa_review_report_2010_6_en.pdf/64b1253c-9e03-48dd-8546-cb2bee3c3646#; July 2010 

5. Which beauty treatments are safe during pregnancy?; NCT; https://www.nct.org.uk/information/pregnancy/wellbeing-and-lifestyle-pregnancy/which-beauty-treatments-are-safe-during-pregnancy

Also Read:

Facial Bleach in Pregnancy
Wearing Make up during Pregnancy
Eyebrow Threading when Pregnant
Manicure And Pedicure while Pregnant
Can Pregnant Women Use Hair Removal Cream?

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.