AboutMaggie Franklin Expertise Professional Nailcare: nail enhancement chemistry and technique, mancuring and pedicuring. I am not qualified to give medical advice or make medical diagnoses.
Experience I am a professional nail technician with 17 years experience in the professional beauty industry. I am licensed in the states of California (license #M120766) and Colorado (license #8611.)
I have been an active member of the online mailing list at Beautytech.com since 1999 where I network with 100s of nail industry professionals around the world.
Over the last 15 years I have accumulated several advanced training certificates, including the coveted Creative Nail Designs Master Nail Technician status, and personal training by Tammy Taylor, Tom Bachik, and Tom Holcomb.
I briefly joined the competition circuit in 2002, taking first place in the second annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition in the Enhancement 2 category. In 2009 I have decided to make time in my schedule to get back into competition by joining "Team Pink," the competition team captained by current world champion nail technician, Lynn Lammers.
I boast several contributions to articles that have appeared in both Nails and Nailpro magazines, including a brief stint as a Nails Magazine Help Desk contributor and now I write a semi-weekly blog for Nails Magazine while continuing to attend tradeshows and continuing education events.
Organizations Nail Tech mailist list at Beautytech.com
Publications Nails Magazine. Nailpro Magazine. Blogging for Nails Magazine since September, 2008: http://blogs.nailsmag.com/maggie/
Education/Credentials CA license #M120766. CO license #8611. CND Master Nail Technician. Tom Holcomb Academy. Personal training with Tom Bachik. Two day advanced training with Tammy Taylor. AEFM certified for use of electric file. HRTE (High Road to Education) in San Jose, CA 2009.
Awards and Honors 2nd Annual Strut Your Stuff Online competition, 1st place in Enhancement 2. Member of "Team Pink" competition team 2009. 3rd place, Novice tip-and-overlay relay at IBS Las Vegas, 2009.
Question I read a prior question & answer regarding the allergic reaction to Gel nails. I've been getting them for past 2 months and have encountered the same reaction. My shop does use clean products/ clean towels etc but I get the bad itchiness, swelling, redness & eventually peeling skin shortly after. Is there any hand lotions that would help reduce the symptons seeming as this obviously is going to happen everytime I get them done??
Answer My advice would be to find a product that DOESN'T result in an adverse reaction. If you are developing a chemical sensitivity the symptoms will only worsen with continued exposure. If you find a less sensitizing product now, there's a good chance that you will be able to wear nails for a very long time. If you continue to expose yourself to a substance that is causing a reaction, there's a good chance that your body will stage a full out revolt and you could end up allergic to the entire acrylate family of products!
However, if you choose to continue with the product that is giving you grief now, you can try hydrocortisone, or diphenhydramine cream, or soaking your fingers in water mixed with baking soda until the itching subsides.
You might want to discuss the reaction with a doctor, to see if you could be in danger of developing a severe allergic reaction with repeated use of the product. I have one client who is so allergic to acrylates that she has to have Kenalog shots on a regular basis just to continue her career as a nurse-- which exposes her to a variety of substances that are in the same family as most nail products.
Remember, nail products are plastics. If you become very allergic to nail products, it could mean becoming allergic to many other things in your daily life as well.
