Zamberg.com: Pregnancy and Manicures

The contents of Zamberg.com education section provides only general concepts of hygiene and product usage and should not in any event be considered as specific medical recommendation for self-treatment. The information is being provided only as reference and in no way should be taken as instructions for self-diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for a licensed physician's proper medical advice, diagnosis and/or treatment. Customers should always consult a physician or another licensed medical practitioner for specific treatment instructions and before beginning using any treatment or hygiene regimen. If at any time customers have any treatment questions or experience any discomfort or pain with their personal hygiene practices we recommend that they consult a physician for assessment and treatment.

Note from Zamberg.com

We, at Zamberg.com, pride ourselves on providing the best quality products that are not only labeled as "good for you" and " earth-friendly", but are also the things we personally use at home for our families. Although we are not physicians or scientists, it is our strong opinion that women who are pregnant or nursing should not use any nail polishes or treatments, even the natural and safest ones. Our concern is for your own safety and the good health of your baby.

However if you decide to use nail polish anyway, try the polishes and polish removers that do not use known harmful chemicals. They might take a little longer to apply or take off, but compared with the negative impact the conventional products could have on your health, the extra effort involved in using the natural polishes is worth it.

Every pregnancy and every woman is unique and therefore may respond differently to various substances. The information provided in this article is merely advice and suggestions based on general information. If you have any concerns or questions, we encourage you to discuss them with your physician.

Pregnancy & Manicures

Manicures:

As your pregnancy progresses and as your baby develops, your body changes as well. Very often women will notice an increase in their shoe size or accelerated hair growth. The texture of their skin, hair and nails may also appear different. Sometimes, these differences occur as a result of certain imbalances in their bodies. Vitamin and other nutritional deficiencies could negatively affect the hair, skin and nails. However, most often during pregnancy nails grow faster than usual, requiring more attention and manicures. Some women who previously had problems growing their nails find that during pregnancy they need to cut their nails nearly every week.

A manicure does not necessarily need to involve nail polishes or any other chemicals. Simply cutting and trimming your nails and cuticles will keep your nails healthy and well groomed. An expectant mother requires all kinds of special care and more frequent cutting of the nails could be just one more special way in which she could pamper herself.

Treatments:

Pregnant and nursing women should exercise extreme caution when using certain products, including those that seem to promote a healthy lifestyle, like vitamins or homeopathic treatments. Please note that certain chemicals in nail treatments could have an adverse effect on expectant women or their unborn babies. Consult a physician for specific questions about nail polishes and treatments.

Most of the nail polishes that are widely circulated in the United States may contain harmful chemicals that are not allowed in European nations. This is because the regulations for nail polish manufacturers are not as stringent as they are for similar products in Europe.

Perhaps you think that nail polish or treatments cannot get through your skin. You're wrong. Not only do the chemicals seep through your skin and nails, you also inhale the fumes from the treatments. Some women even ingest the chemicals by biting or licking their nails. Chemicals used in most treatments could cause anything from skin irritation to rashes and possible poisoning.

Of course, not all nail treatments are like that. Some manicurists use nail polishes that are made up of "edible" or biodegradable ingredients. However other chemicals, with unknown effects on the body, could still be present. Be careful of such treatments and always put the health of your baby first.

The three main culprits in most nail products are formaldehyde, which could cause an allergic reaction, phthalates, which in tests have been found to cause birth defects in the reproductive systems of laboratory animals, and solvents that have been linked to problems like asthma. In addition there are color dyes, fragrances and other chemicals that may cause health issues not yet identified.

Formaldehyde is used in nail strengtheners and nail polishes. Most nail polishes actually use formaldehyde resin, which is produced from formaldehyde. Because of the changes the formaldehyde compound goes through to create the resin, it doesn't produce the same effects on the body as formaldehyde does, however it is known to cause allergic reactions. It should be noted that even though formaldehyde can add strength to the nails, it can also leave them very dry and may even damage the cuticles.

Even if a nail polish or cosmetics product is labeled "formaldehyde free" it may contain other chemicals that may be harmful.

Phthalates are used in nail polishes to keep nails from chipping and cracking. They are also used in most cosmetics, like creams and lotions, to allow the products to penetrate deeper into the skin. Regrettably only a few small studies have been done on this compound and its effects on humans. The research is also vague about the actual amount that may cause illness in people. Animal studies have shown that phthalates can cause damage to lungs, kidneys, liver and the reproductive organs of the fetuses.

Even if the manufacturer's research and labels state that the small amounts of phthalates used in their product is not harmful, if you use more than one product that contains these chemicals there is a cumulative effect. Add to that the chemical exposure from environmental and food sources and there is indeed cause to be concerned. For the safety of your unborn baby, it's recommended that you severely limit your exposure to known, harmful chemicals.

Solvents are used to make the nail polish easy to apply. For example two very common ingredients in "organic" nail polishes are toluene and xylene. It should be noted that these compounds are produced from petroleum-based products and therefore could contain contaminants that have been linked to cancer. Toluene is found in gasoline, paints, lacquers, varnishes, pain thinners, glues, shoe polish and other products. All of these items have strong fumes and some of them may cause dizziness or poisoning if ingested.

The cosmetics industry is constantly working on new chemical compounds to improve their products, but often the effects of these chemicals are not immediately realized. Therefore, pregnant and nursing women should always use extreme care.

Alternatives:

Some US companies have put the well being of their customers first and have voluntarily stopped using some or even all of these chemicals. The best of these products are represented in our selections of the All-natural and Water-based nail polishes. Since these healthier products do not use certain chemicals to speed up the drying process, these nail polishes will require a longer drying time.

In addition, these more natural enamels do not need strong and harsh chemicals to remove them. In fact, the all natural, non-toxic and even odor free polish removers, like the ones presented in our all-natural nail polish remover selection, are so effective that they work equally well to gently remove all types of polish without causing damage to your cuticles and your overall health.

If you decide to use nail polishes during your pregnancy, pay careful attention to the ingredients of the products that you or your manicurist uses, even though many of the chemicals might be unknown to you. Remember that some might not even be listed. Using natural products might take more effort to apply but are less likely to have harmful effects. If possible, skip the nail hardeners and polishes altogether if you are pregnant or nursing.