Is Nail Polish Bad For You When Pregnant?

As long as you pay attention to the chemical contents of the products used,  getting your nails done during pregnancy is fine. However, as previously mentioned, since certain compounds in nail polish products may contain toluene and formaldehyde, you should avoid using them regularly and in large doses.

Occasional use of nail polish when you are pregnant is generally considered safe. So far, there is no clear evidence proving that nail polish causes an adverse reaction.

Needless to say,  ingesting the nail polish products will cause problems not only for your baby, but also for yourself. 

Pregnancy Safe Nail Polish Brands

There are many pregnancy-safe nail polish brands on the market today, which do not contain the 3 toxic chemicals: formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. You can easily find them checking their label to see if any of these chemicals present in the product.

Some popular brands, such as OPI, Sally Hansen, and Essie generally come free of those chemicals. However, the bad news is that not all the companies claiming that produce nail polishes labeled 3-free are true. In fact, certain firms have been found to use formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, while the opposite is labeled on the product.

When you go to the nail salon to get manicures and pedicures done, you need to ensure that there is proper ventilation and that the tools used are always sterilized during the procedure. In addition, it is not recommended to get your cuticles cut during pregnancy, since pregnant women are more prone to infections, and having that delicate skin removed could lead to bacteria and parasites getting in.