Why Acrylic Nails are a No No

Nobody talks about this, but there are three main reasons why I do not wear acrylic nails. The first is that as a dermatologist, I perform surgeries on patients, and acrylic nails are associated with higher rates of infection when you are the surgeon, not as the patient, but as the surgeon performing surgery because they hold on to germs more than natural nails. The second reason is because I don't want anyone messing with my cuticles. When your cuticles are pushed down, this allows more things to infect the bed of your nail, so you're more prone to getting viral infections, fungal infections, and bacterial infections. And the third reason is because acrylic nails contain acrylates, which is a glue-like substance that has a very high rate of causing an allergic contact dermatitis or a poison ivy-like reaction. And the more and more you come into contact with these acrylates, which can be found in so many things, the more likely you are to develop that allergy over time.