This Is What Happens to Your Body 10 Hours After Putting on Nail Polish
Take a look at your hands. What do they look like? For many people, nail polish is part of personal style, grooming, and presentation. In some workplaces and social settings, polished nails are even seen as a sign of neatness or professionalism.
However, some researchers and health organizations have raised concerns about certain chemicals used in nail polish and other nail products. While nail polish does not affect everyone in the same way, understanding what may be absorbed, inhaled, or contacted during use can help consumers make safer choices.
What Research Has Found About Nail Polish Chemicals
A study conducted by researchers from Duke University and the Environmental Working Group, published in Environment International, examined whether certain nail polish ingredients could be detected in the body after application.
The study focused on diphenyl phosphate, or DPHP, a substance produced when the body metabolizes triphenyl phosphate, also known as TPHP. TPHP is used in some nail polishes as a plasticizer, helping polish remain flexible and durable.
In the study, urine samples from 24 women were analyzed before and after nail polish application. Researchers found that levels of DPHP increased noticeably within hours after application, with higher levels observed around 10 to 14 hours later.
This does not mean that nail polish automatically causes disease, but it does suggest that some ingredients may enter the body after use.
How Chemicals May Enter the Body
Researchers believe exposure may occur in several ways.
Although fingernails themselves are not highly permeable to most molecules, chemicals may be absorbed through the cuticle or the skin surrounding the nail.
Exposure may also happen through inhalation, especially in poorly ventilated rooms or nail salons where fumes from polish, removers, and other products can accumulate.
Another possible route is ingestion, particularly for people who bite their nails after polish has been applied.
Why TPHP Has Raised Concern
TPHP has been studied because it is suspected of affecting the endocrine system, which helps regulate hormones in the body.
Some laboratory and animal studies have raised questions about whether long-term exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may influence reproductive health, metabolism, thyroid function, or other hormone-related processes.
However, more research is needed to fully understand how typical nail polish exposure affects human health over time.
TPHP is only one chemical discussed in nail product safety. Several other ingredients have also drawn attention from researchers and public health advocates.
