Pregnancy and Nail Polish

So you're pregnant and super excited for your upcoming baby - To celebrate, you and a few friends head over to your local nail salon to get manicures.  Super fun, right?  Definitely!

... But is it safe?

Toxins in Nail Polish

Have you ever heard of Three-Free or Five-Free nail polish?  These are polishes designed without the presence of chemicals found in more classic polish formulas.  Three-Free formulas are made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde - while Five-Free polishes are free of those three, plus formaldehyde resin and camphor.

Toluene is a compound that might be connected to reproductive issues - definitely bad news.  DBP can impact hormone production and causes headaches - again, bad news.   Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and can cause breathing problems - super bad!  Formaldehyde resin, while not as toxic as straight formaldehyde, is a known allergen.  Camphor can cause seizures... and if that wasn't bad enough, it can also cause yellowing of your nails.

Nail Polish During Pregnancy

While the information above may sound really scary, many medical professionals don't think that the occasional coat of polish on your nails will cause you or your baby any harm.  A common recommendation is limiting the number of times you use nail polish, and only exposing yourself to polish in well-ventilated areas so that you are less likely to inhale fumes - and, of course, use Three-Free or Five-Free brand polishes whenever possible.

So which polish should I use?

Let's focus on easy-to-find brands that are usually stocked at your local drugstore or beauty supply shop - A number of extremely popular nail polishes fall into the Three-Free category - like OPI, Essie, and Sally Hansen.  These are likely the brands of polishes that make up most average women's nail polish collections (including mine).

But what if you want to be extra cautious and limit yourself to Five-Free?  A few popular brands are also in this category - including Zoya and Chanel.  One thing to note on these, however, is that they are definitely more expensive that their Three-Free alternatives.

What about nail polish remover?

Acetone is typically the concern with nail polish remover.  Most experts will tell you that the greatest concern with use is that you'll feel nauseous from the fumes.  Acetone isn't classified as a carcinogen and there is no known connection to birth defects... so un-polish away (in a
well-ventilated area)!  Non-acetone removers are available as well, but definitely check the label to make sure that the chemicals present in those removers aren't replacing one bad ingredient for another.