After getting a manicure, my nails became half as thin. It turns out this really isn't just my illusion

People who frequently do nail art may often have the following feeling: just finished nail art, looking left and right, oh my, it looks really good; After a period of time, after removing the nails or forcibly removing them, I always feel that the surface of the nails not only becomes dry and thin, but sometimes there may also be delamination.

Does nail art really make nails thinner? The answer is: Yes.

Researchers have used a reflective confocal microscope to calculate the thickness of nails before and after nail art, and found that the average thickness before nail art was 0.59 millimeters, and after removing the nail art, the average thickness was 0.30 millimeters, which is almost half thinner. Moreover, besides subjectively feeling that their nails were thinner and more brittle than before, some participants also reported that the tips of their nails would split apart in layers.

The experimental results are so scary, do we still need nail art? Don't panic for now, let's take a look at the process of nail art.

What are nail salons using?

In order to achieve better nail effects and long-lasting colors, many people choose to go to nail salons and ask nail technicians for help with nail art. There are two kinds of nails often made by nail salons: crystal nails and gel nails.

The main components of both are acrylic resin. The difference is that when making crystal nails, you need to first mix the crystal powder and solution into a gel like texture before applying it to the nails; The gel nail can be directly applied with the primer.

There is actually no essential difference between these two. Just like milk, flour, or cake crumbs, both can be made into cream cakes, but the steps for the former are slightly more complicated. Therefore, most nail salons have turned to gel nail.

Nail art and nail removal can both damage nails

Taking the phototherapy lengthening nail (a kind of gel nail) commonly used nowadays as an example, the steps of nail enhancement include:

The purpose of engraving and grinding the nail surface is to remove the nail surface oil, making the nail surface rough and allowing the nail oil to adhere better to the nail surface. After wiping and cleaning the nail surface with alcohol, apply adhesive and primer. Dry the phototherapy adhesive. Extend the nails with a finger rest and apply phototherapy gel. After drying, scratch and grind the nail surface again (this step can be skipped if the nail extension is not done). Paint or style the nail surface. Strengthen the sealing layer.

Due to the inability to directly remove the seal layer of nail art, it is necessary to first use a rubbing strip to polish the seal layer when removing the nail art; Apply a cotton ball soaked in acetone to the nails to soften the phototherapy gel, and then use a file to remove the nail art.

It is not difficult to see that in a complete nail art and removal process, there will be violent damage to the nail body, such as carving and grinding the nail surface. Although it is not yet clear what causes thinning of nails after nail art, researchers believe that it may be related to factors such as the composition of nail polish, the removal of nail polish preparations, and the wear and tear on the nail surface when filing off nail polish.

Can I still do nail art?

Of course! As long as it's not excessive, everything is fine.

The growth of nails is a continuous process. The area around the base of the nail is the growth zone of the nail body, where there is a group of basal layer cells called the nail matrix. The division of nail matrix cells is active, and newly formed cells undergo keratinization, moving towards the nail body while pushing old nails towards the fingertips. When the old nails beyond the edge of the fingertips are slowly trimmed, only new and normal thickness nails cover the nail body.

But sometimes, excessive nail art can not only make nails thinner, but also cause infections such as paronychia. After all, our nails shoulder important physiological functions: protecting the distal phalanges and surrounding soft tissues, enhancing the sensitivity of finger touch and fingertip sensitivity. So protecting your nails is still very important.

How to activate the correct nail art mode?

Ensure that the nail artist has washed their hands and disinfected the tools used during the nail art process before proceeding with the nail art procedure.

Remind nail technicians not to excessively polish the nail body.

Do not clean the nail epithelium. When doing nail art, nail technicians will clean the nail epithelium around the nails. The nail epithelium can protect the nail roots from bacterial invasion. If the nail epithelium is completely and thoroughly cleaned, bacteria may enter the body and cause infection.

When there is a need to remove nails, use specialized nail removal products. Do not scrape your nails with your hands or sharp objects.

Choose a disposable nail removal kit to remove nails. Some small nail salons use tin foil wrapped in cotton soaked in acetone to save costs when removing nails. The repeated use of tin foil between different people can lead to cross infection.

If you are a heavy fan of nail art, it is recommended to remove the nail art every two to three months to allow for natural growth and repair of the nails.

If there is suspicion of infection such as paronychia or nail problems, stop nail art immediately. There is currently no evidence to prove that nail art can really strengthen our nails, so it is not advisable to use nail art to reinforce our already thin and brittle nails. We should seek the help of a dermatologist.

While nail art brings beauty, there is also a risk of damaging the nails. But beauty is not inherently wrong. When dressing up, please consider your body's ability to bear it and enjoy it to the fullest without harming your body.