thanbey

The information on nails and nail salons (and tattoos)was first made to the 9th Congress on Women's Health in Washington DC in 2001 by Dr. Terry Banks, Chief of Hepatology, Howard University (Washington DC)

Dr. Banks was speaking at a breakfast sponsored by Hepatitis C Outreach Project of Portland Oregon. I also spoke on the topic of tattoos and women's health.

Similar presentations have been made on the risks of Tattooing (and nail salons) at the American Public Health Association's 129th Global Health Conference in Atlanta Georgia in 2001. Speakers were Dr. Richard Alexander, Dr. Robert Haley and me, Teresa Hanbey.

The nail salons pose a clear risk for transmission as well as potential for liver damage to those with HCV.

Salons that allow clients to bring their own tools are better than those who do not. However, surfaces must be kept clean, and where nicks and cuts are possible, sterile. I know of NO salon that uses an autoclave or uses cleaners that would do the job right.

I would be surprised to learn of even one that cleaned the work area adequately BETWEEN CLIENTS, every time.

There is more to know for HCV positive clients who will continue to use acrylic nails (other than the potential to transmit it to others):

An acrylic ingredient called methyl-methacrylate (MMA) has been deemed a health hazard by the FDA, and has been banned in many states from use in nail salons. However, products containing MMA are still used in some salons because it is much less expensive (about 1/10 the cost of legal products) and because it produce nails that are almost unbreakable.

For more information on MMA, how to spot it, and what you can do to discourage its use:
[url="http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/DailyNews/2020_nails_020412.html"]http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/DailyNews/2020_nails_020412.html[/url]

Consumer Safety Note:
Due to the coarseness of MMA, operators often use an electric file to finish the nail. Electric files can be safe if properly used and their metal bits are cleaned and disinfected after each use. Sanding sleeves are single-use items and must be thrown away after each use. DO NOT ALLOW A TECHNICIAN TO USE DIRTY OR PREVIOUSLY USED FILES OR BITS FOR ELECTRIC FILES ON YOUR NAILS! Make the technician use clean implements and files on each time you visit the salon.

Alternatives to Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails can, and should be, safe when properly applied and maintained. But there are alternatives for women who want to be absolutely sure of avoiding potentially dangerous MMA-based products:
Light-cured gels. Light-cured gel products are applied with a small brush, then placed under an ultraviolet light in order for the product to harden. The gels are the consistency of honey, and either clear or colored. There is no combining of products, so if a salon uses a mixture of liquid and powder, this is not a gel. Gels can be applied over the natural nail, over tips, or extended with a form.
Wraps. Wrap products include silk, linen and fiberglass. Mesh is applied over the nail or tip, then a resin is brushed over the entire nail. An activator is sometimes used to speed up the set of the resin.
Natural-nail manicures. Natural-nail cultivation products and procedures have become quite advanced. Various types of manicures can help develop stronger, healthier nails. Cleanliness is a factor in any salon offering manicures and pedicures.

There is no research on the effects of these strong chemicals on people with a liver disease, but The Hepatitis C Outreach Project advises that great caution is necessary when making this choice. A product or procedure should be proven to be safe before using it, not proven to be unsafe before discontinuing it after a problem has been discovered.

I hope this helps,

thanbey
[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]

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[url="http://www.hcop.org"]www.hcop.org[/url]
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[This message has been edited by thanbey (edited 04-08-2003).]