Is It Safe to Visit a Nail Salon During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

By Al Romeo, RN, PhD, MotherToBaby Utah

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you might wonder if it is safe for you to go to the nail salon. After all, there are chemicals in nail treatments, and (let’s face it) nail salons often smell like they could be toxic! But are they?

What’s in Nail Treatments? And Could They Be Harmful if I’m Pregnant or Nursing?

Common nail products include nail polish and types of acrylic nails including gels, liquids, and powders. There are a few ingredients that are commonly found in those products, including:

• Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Used in nail polish to make it flexible. Small amounts are found in humans but are not expected to cause problems during pregnancy or breastfeeding based on current research.
• Toluene: A solvent used to thin nail polish. The small amount absorbed through the skin or inhaled is not expected to increase the chance of problems for your pregnancy or breastfed baby.
• Formaldehyde: Used to harden nail polish. Some may be allergic, but the amount used in nail products is small and not expected to cause health issues during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Camphor: Gives nail polish a pleasant odor. The quantity in nail polish is minimal and not expected to increase risks during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Paraffin: A mineral oil used in cosmetics. It is mainly applied to the skin and isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream significantly.
• Methacrylate: Found in acrylic nails. It can cause minor irritation but is not expected to cause increased risks during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Acetone: A solvent in nail polish removers. Small amounts absorbed are not expected to cause problems for your pregnancy or breastfed baby.
• Acetonitrile: Less commonly used solvent. It has a similar safety profile to acetone.

But What About the Smell?

The smell in nail salons is from the chemicals in nail treatments. With good air flow, it’s unlikely that much of the chemicals will be absorbed through breathing. If you experience headaches, dizziness, or nausea, take a break and get fresh air.

So What’s the Take-Away?

Go ahead, pamper yourself with pretty nails! Using these cosmetic products as part of routine nail treatments should not cause you any concern, as there are no known increased risks for your pregnancy or your breastfed baby.

If you have questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding, contact an expert at MotherToBaby. You can reach us by phone at 866-626-6847 or by text at 855-999-3525. You can also email or live chat with us by visiting MotherToBaby.org.

About the Author: Alfred Romeo, RN, PhD, is a nurse and health educator. He has been with MotherToBaby for fifteen years, has served as the chair of various committees, and has held roles on the Board of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS)/MotherToBaby. His experiences include working as a nurse in newborn intensive care units, training medical homes to improve services for children with special needs, and training young adults with disabilities in leadership and advocacy.