Is Your Nail Polish Harming Your Toes?

Have you ever noticed that after a long winter of keeping your toenails painted, they look a little bit chalky, white, or yellow when you finally take the polish off? Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, wants you to have that perfect toenail polish, but your favorite bottle of lacquer might be doing more than just adding a pop of color. 

While nail polish is a fun way to stay fab, wearing it constantly can actually trap moisture and chemicals against your nail, which can lead to some issues that you’ll want to avoid.

Fungal Infections 

One of the biggest risks of keeping your toes painted 24/7 is that you might be accidentally masking a fungal infection.

If you have a small white spot or a bit of yellowing starting at the edge of your nail, you will not see it if a coat of color covers it. And by the time you finally remove it, the infection could have spread across the entire nail bed, which makes it much harder to treat. 

That’s why you should: 

• Make it a habit to inspect your bare nails every time you switch colors
• Do not leave one color on for too long

Keratin Granulations and Discoloration

If you see white, chalky patches on the surface of your nail after removing polish, you are likely looking at keratin granulations. This happens when the polish stays on for too long, and the chemicals start to dehydrate the superficial layers of the nail. 

When you eventually peel or remove the polish, it takes some of those nail cells with it and leaves your toes looking rough and unhealthy.

 To prevent this:

• Don’t leave a single application on for more than two or three weeks at a time

How to Use Toenail Polish Safely and Correctly

But you don’t have to give up your pedicure entirely. The secret is in the technique and the timing: 

• Always start with a high-quality base coat. This acts as a protective barrier between your nail and the pigments in the polish, which helps prevent that yellow staining.
• Look for polishes labeled as five-free or ten-free, which means they are made without the harshest chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (remember these names)

Give Your Toes a Break from Nail Polish

For every two weeks you wear polish, you should give your nails at least one full week of being completely bare. During this time, don’t be afraid to apply a bit of cuticle oil or a specialized nail moisturizer to help repair any surface damage. 

Using a non-acetone remover will also save your nails from the drying effects of traditional removers!

For any questions about foot health and wellness, reach out to the tenured staff at My Chicago Foot Expert by calling (773) 561-8100 or by clicking here to schedule an appointment with Cook County podiatrist Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM, in our new, comfortable Chicago office, located at 5015 N Paulina Street, Suite #217.