Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/809430
126 | NAILS MAGAZINE | MAY 2017 your body, including your respiratory tract, which in turn provides a strong, healthy environment for the baby to develop and grow. Protecting yourself doesn't end in the salon. Limit your exposure to second-hand smoke, environmental irritants, such as smog, pollution, red tide, and even "welcome" vapors, such as scented candles or air fresheners. CHEMICALS: DUST Dust poses a danger both because it can be inhaled and because it can contain uncured monomer that lands on and is absorbed into our skin. Fans that vacuum vapors, dust, and debris away from the working area to the outside are the first line of defense. A second step is to wear gloves and clothes to cover the arms and legs. Understand, the ingredients in salon products are allergens, which means they've been known to cause allergies. The risk of developing an allergy is reduced in direct correlation to the amount we allow our skin to come into contact with those chemicals. Just as pregnancy can cause the body to respond differently to smells, it can also produce a different response to allergens. Skin may be more sensitive, particularly if hormones cause the body temperature to rise. This could cause the immune system to overreact when acrylic dust sticks to skin that is already sweaty, irritated, or inflamed. Protect yourself from this risk by limiting your exposure to the dust and debris from nail services. Second, always keep product capped and covered. Vapors escape in ways we overlook, for example, through the clam- shell cap on a dispenser pump. It's good practice to cover the whole dispenser during the workday when it's not in use, as well as when you leave the salon at night. Finally, don't overlook garbage. Manicure napkins soaked with gel or monomer tossed into a garbage receptacle allow vapors to fill the salon to levels that can irritate eyes and affect breathing. All garbage containers should be covered at all times — and not with a lid that has space surrounding the entire perimeter of the flip tongue. Invest in quality garbage receptacles. Consider a metal, pedal-operated can with a lid that seals as it closes. Empty it several times a day into a larger receptacle outside the salon. Remove the disposable liner with the last load of discarded napkins and waste at the end of each work day. A mask that meets N95 standards can offer additional protection when it's worn during the application process. These precautions aren't to prevent vapors from harming the baby. Limiting inhalation of chemical vapors protects " A d h e r i n g t o s a f e t y g u i d e l i n e s t h a t p r o t e c t t h e m o t h e r ' s r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t, k i d n e y , a n d l iv e r w i l l g e n e r a l l y b e s u f fi c i e n t t o p r o t e c t t h e e m b r y o a n d f e t u s ." w w w . g u l f s t r e a m i n c . c o m Toll Free. 1.877.622.4853