We understand any hesitancy around gel polish. That’s why we thought it important to talk about gel polish in manicures and pedicures.
Is gel polish bad for nails?
As far as the formulation of professional grade products, they are formulated to be safe enough to use on the nail beds on a consistent basis. Any damage to the nails comes from from the removal and/or the application process.
Gel polish safety during preparation
If the nail is being over filed, more of the nail bed is exposed to the binding agents and other chemicals in the products. Going deeper than one should causes damage to the natural nail in the buffing process. In addition, there is the possibility of staining the nails. Stained nails are not visibly appealing and can happen due to improper application.
Gel polish safety during removal
Again, if the nail is being over filed it becomes susceptible to damage: Thinning of the nail, breaking, sensitivity to cold, heat, or the curation process when the gel is being cured under the UV light.
Is the UV light for gel nails harmful?
Like any light, it is a form of radiation that light can be harmful. However, the lights that are used now are LED curing lights. In the past, older curing lights that were used mainly for gel nail extensions used UV light. It was a different type of bulb with a different mechanism to the machine. The application of gel polish became much safer with the introduction of LED lights. But again, because it is a form of radiation it’s gonna cause some level of damage, especially if done improperly.
Are there any side effects to gel nail polish?
Some people will experience a heat sensitivity during the curing process depending on the indivdual. For example, some people may have allergies to an ingredient in the product and experience a reaction.
Dryness is a side effect because of all the removers such as acetone being used in order prepare and dehydrate the nail. Lotion can be used to help avoid that.
Finally, there is the thinning of the nail. The fingernails take about 6 months to fully restore themselves. When working on a fresh application, even if the nail is prepared properly, you’ll still be working on that nail bed that was previously worked on if you’re doing gel polish monthly.
How long is it safe to wear gel nail polish?
It is safe to wear gel polish for as long as it wears, that is, until it naturally sheds or you have it removed. In fact, whether you use gel polish or your classic varnish, it is always recommended that you give the nails a break. This allows them to build some strength again, and it allows them breathe.
As Service Providers, we see all types foot conditions including bruised nails. We’ve answered some common questions below that we receive during pedicures.
Do bruised nails grow out?
Yes, they do grow out. However, if there has been trauma to the matrix of the nail, there may be permanent damage such as ridges. The matrix is where the nail is developed, in other words, a damaged “nail factory” will produce damaged nails.
How long does it take for a bruised nail to grow out?
The answer to that question depends on where the trauma is located on the nail. Typically it takes about a year for the nail to fully replenish itself; that is assuming the bruise is at the base of the nail.
On the other hand if the trauma is midpoint, it is safe to estimate it will take about 6 months to grow out. If the nail trauma is a quarter of the way down, it should out take about 3 months, and so on.
Does a new nail grow under the bruised nail?
No, a new nail does not grow underneath, but it grows behind it. So, if the trauma to the nail is bad enough, then the nail will eventually fall as the new nail starts to push out that damaged nail. Depending on how bad the bruise is, sometimes the nail will just slowly grow out.
Home care tips for bruised nails.
Keeping them clean and dry will prevent your vulnerable feet from developing other conditions, such as athlete’s foot or nail fungus. Avoiding tight shoes will prevent unnecessary pressure and will therefore allow normal blood flow to the feet. We recommend wearing sandals in the summer time, it is safe to cover up the bruise with nail polish.
If it is a pretty bad hematoma (bruise) it is recommended to have it drained by a doctor to alleviate some of the pressure.
Pedicures not only help wit the esthetics of a bruised nail, they also remove any collection of tissue and blood that collects between the nail and the nail bed.
Foot corns are not caused by virus or bacteria. They are caused by pressure between footwear and the bone. In other words, they are strictly due to friction.
The early stages of corns are soft corns. After they build the callous they become a hardened overgrowth of skin.
Foot corn removal
Treatment is simple when addressed promptly. Soft corns can be treated with corn pads to cushion friction areas. On the other hand, hard corns are treated with regular pedicures. Calloused areas are removed with pedicure tools, for example, blades and rasps.
If the corn occurred due to wearing bad shoes during a short period of time, for example, during a vacation, a pedicure is great for foot corn removal. However, if corns are due to bad bone alignment, we recommend wearing cushions regularly.
Have you ever “broken in” a new pair of shoes? You’re not actually breaking in the shoes. Instead, you are inadvertently breaking in your feet! Sometimes a corn will start off as a blister. If you continue to use the problematic shoes after the blister pops, it will build a callous in those tiny spots. The callous buildup becomes a corn.
Our recommendation? Discontinue use of tight footwear to alleviate the pressure if they are the cause. In addition, light buffing in the shower over the corn will help reduce symptoms.
Regular Pedicures
Our pedicare treatments provide all the benefits of a traditional pedicure combined with our treatment approach and signature touch of luxury. Above all, regular pedicures are important to maintain foot health and keep feet looking their best.
Also known as Tinea Pedis, Athlete’s Foot is a foot fungus found between the toes. Because of their appearance, many people mistake them for moisture blisters. We recommend following our tips below if you believe you may have Athlete’s Foot.
The fungus is localized during early stages. However if it starts to spread, it goes all over the foot often mimicking dry skin. This may cause some people to think their feet are just simply dry. However, it is contagious, so it’s best to seek Athlete’s Foot treatment immediately. A good indicator is if it’s only affecting one foot or one section more than others.
In its developed stages Athlete’s Foot leads to scaly, dry skin and can become itchy and hot in its bad stages. Plus, it smells! Be on the lookout for a particular musky smell.
Athlete’s Foot Causes
Foot fungi are often spread through cross contamination in locker room floors, swimming pools, sharing shoes/socks. Their preferred environment is humid and therefore thrive in feet enclosed in humid shoes, as well as toes that have not been dried properly.
Home care tips
Wear cotton socks.
Change socks and shoes regularly.
Wear flip flops in public places.
Avoid home slippers made of cloth material on the inside.
Get clean regular pedicures.
Avoid close-toed slippers at home.
Athlete’s Foot Treatment
Use a scrubbing glove to get rid of dead skin between the toes. Getting rid of that dead skin eliminates food sources for the fungus to grow. Afterwards when getting out of the shower, use powder in between the toes to absorb moisture. In addition, you can use over the counter foot sprays with urea.
Regular Pedicures
Regular pedicures are important to maintain foot health. Our pedicures are designed to provide you with all the benefits of a traditional pedicure combined with our treatment approach and signature touch of luxury.
Heel fissures are deep cracks in calloused areas of the foot. Callous is an overgrowth of dry dead skin. This is often caused by improper foot care. For instance, not removing callous on a regular basis and allowing it to get abnormally thick. However, there are other causes of fissures. Medications that dry out the skin, bad foot wear, and improper weight distribution can cause excessive callous which can then lead to fissures.
How long does it take to heal a heel fissure?
Fissures do not go away on their own. They need to be shaved down. Heel fissures treatment includes a series of pedicures to safely and effectively remove excess callous.
Careful though…
Sometimes, excessive callous is caused by bad pedicures. If too much callous is removed, the skin will overcompensate and build twice as much callous. Fissures can be taken down by means of either a pedicure blade, drills, and rasps in a spa pedicure.
Garbage to some, gold to others.
Aftercare includes using a foot cream that contains urea. Urea is derived from urine. More specifically, it is a waste product excreted by your kidneys when you urinate. Though this sounds gross, urea helps to soften and eat away the dead skin. While your kidneys may consider it garbage, urea is gold to your sad feet! Urea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that heal and protect your feet.
Tips: Moisturizing often, regular pedicures, and home care.
After applying foot cream, try to use soft socks, for example, cotton socks. Avoid pantyhose as they can get caught in the fissures. Consequently, this can cause snagging and even bleeding which can lead to infections. Moreover, using a foot paddle or pumice stone in the shower will help maintain foot care.
A bunion is a bony overgrowth at the metatarsophalangeal joint. Bunions are hereditary, however, some factors are known to cause flareups.
For example, people who wear tight and/or pointed toe shoes, stand for a long time, or do a lot of walking tend to see exacerbated symptoms.
Bunions are a painful condition that feels like a throbbing ache.
Bunion treatment
Bunions will not go away on their own, but the symptoms can be alleviated. Bunion treatment varies by severity. In mild cases, changing your footwear and regular pedicures should do the trick. Massaging the joints and warming them with paraffin alleviates the pain.
Ask your Service Provider for foot care tips. Practicing regular foot care helps improve the esthetic appeal of your feet. It also helps maintain the overall health of your feet.
Other treatments for mild cases include toe separators. Wearing them throughout the day or sleeping with them on will reduce tension. More serious cases require a bunion corrector that will fix the issue, not simply reduce the tension. Bunion correctors are a step before surgery.
