Can nail polish harm my nails?
Ask the doctor
Q. I almost always wear nail polish, but can this habit damage my nail health?
A. No, nail polish in itself doesn't harm fingernails or toenails. That said, leaving nails polished for long stretches, such as several weeks at a time, can dry out the surface and prompt chalky, white patches to form. Called keratin granulations, these harmless patches are sometimes mistaken for a similar-looking nail fungus known as white superficial onychomycosis. If you want to get rid of the patches, you'll need to let your nails regrow completely without painting them — a process that can take many months. If it doesn't matter to you, you can paint over the patches.
What can damage your nails is removing nail polish with an acetone-based nail polish remover, which can dry out the nails and surrounding skin. Use acetone-free products. Also, each time you take off polish, examine your nails for changes that can suggest various health conditions. These signs include thickened, yellow nails; redness or swelling around the nails; or dark streaks, splitting, or misshapen nail beds. See your doctor if you notice any such issues.
Image: © Vilin Visuals/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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