Gel Manicure Questions: Help, Feeling Pain!

Gel manicure questions are this Wednesday’s beauty advice answered, this time from a reader who uses an at-home DIY gel manicure kit and has been experiencing some pain.

Happy Hump Day beauty lovers and welcome to another edition of Ask the Pro’s Q&A where your beauty questions are hopefully answered to your satisfaction. This week another reader has a gel manicure query, not unusual as gel manicures have become incredibly popular, especially the at-home versions.

I do my own gel nails, but have found in the last week that some of my fingers are really hurting under the nails. Should I expect this? I am careful not to bite the gels off and do soak them under tin foil. It is a real shame, as I have never had such good nails. Mine always curled under – very ugly, since using gels this has stopped. I really don’t want to give the gels up!!! The problem is not so much the nail bed, more the tip of the finger, the skin is becoming very hard in the problem area and on one finger and it has started to split. It isn’t on all fingers, 3 have been affected, however they are not pussy or inflamed, just hard skin build-up – very odd!

I really can’t think what it can be, all I can say is, and since wearing gels my nails have never been so long, could this be a factor?

Help

Best regards Gail

Red Carpet Manicure Video Gallery

Thanks for writing in Gail. Your fingers should not hurt at all. From what I gather it is the surrounding skin towards the end of the cuticle-tip of the nail and I think it appears the skin may have been manipulated too much and possibly some of the gel manicure formula may have irritated the skin causing it to harden.

I spoke to a manicurist friend also and we think you have developed a callous possibly from gel getting on the skin, which as long as it isn’t looking infected, should be ok. If it begins to puss or yellow, or doesn’t go away after trying the remedy, please see a doctor. But for now, try some bacitracin and cuticle oil or nourishing cream. Red Carpet Manicure at-home gel manicure system is a favorite of mine that I personally use. The brand makes a cuticle balm that is very effective. But you needn’t worry, you should be able to continue applying the gel manicure, just try your best to keep it off of the skin. Best of luck!

Please remember, if the pain worsens or continues and inflammation or yellowing occurs, you should see a doctor.

If you have a similar gel manicure question or other beauty query you’d like answered, please email me at DeirdreAHaggerty@gmail.com.