Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Published : September 22, 2015 4:33 PM IST
Many women use acetone regularly to remove nail colour. But with growing popularity of acetone-free nail colour removers, people are questioning the safety of acetone. Most of us are unaware that acetone is a very common solvent and widely used in household cleaners. Though it is a part of many cosmetic products, the safety of using it is questionable. Does it really cause skin and nail damage? Here are the answers.
Dries the skin: When using acetone based nail colour remover, you must have observed the surrounding skin going dry. This is because acetone strips off all the natural oils and moisture of your skin, as a result of which your skin appears dry.[1]
Can cause dermatitis: Continuous exposure to highly concentrated acetone, as in the case of industry workers, has shown to cause contact dermatitis[2], a type of skin rash where your skin swells, becomes red and itchy.
Affects the Central Nervous System: Acetone is not really harmful, and a little exposure to it does not have any serious side effects. But exposure to high quantities of acetone as in the case of ingestion or inhalation of its fumes for a very long time can affect the nervous system leading to headache, nausea and dizziness.There have been cases of accidental ingestion of acetone-based nail polish removers, which has had catastrophic effects. Although these incidents were not fatal, it is important to keep such products out of children's reach. [3]
Even though acetone is a quick in removing nail paints, it is best to take some precautions before using it. Rub some petroleum jelly or any oil on your hand before using acetone. This will prevent dryness as a result of using acetone.
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References:
1. Rissmann R, Oudshoorn MH, Hennink WE, Ponec M, Bouwstra JA. Skin barrier disruption by acetone: observations in a hairless mouse skin model. Arch Dermatol Res. 2009 Sep;301(8):609-13. doi: 10.1007/s00403-009-0946-6. Epub 2009 Apr 7. PubMed PMID: 19350255; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2728065.
2. Gailhofer G, Binder H, Ludvan M. [Allergic contact eczema caused by an acetone-formaldehyde condensate in billboard workers]. Derm Beruf Umwelt. 1988 Mar-Apr;36(2):50-3. German. PubMed PMID: 2968234.
3. Gamis AS, Wasserman GS. Acute acetone intoxication in a pediatric patient. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1988 Mar;4(1):24-6. PubMed PMID: 3362729.
