Treatment category
Nails — safety by condition
Manicure, pedicure, gel, acrylic, and other nail services.
In short
Nails covers 10 treatments, with 733 published verdicts across 300 conditions. The conditions with the most restrictions here are A high temperature (fever) and A mole that is changing.
In this family
Treatments in this category
- Acrylic NailsAlso called: liquid and powder nails, L&P nails, sculpted acrylicsNail extensions or overlays made from liquid monomer and polymer powder.
- Builder Gel / BIABAlso called: BIAB, builder in a bottle, hard gelStronger gel used to overlay natural nails for added strength or to build extensions.
- Classic ManicureAlso called: regular manicure, traditional manicure, polish manicureFile, shape, cuticle care, hand massage and standard nail polish application.
- Classic PedicureAlso called: regular pedicure, spa pedicureSoak, file, callus removal, cuticle care, foot massage and polish.
- Gel ManicureAlso called: Shellac, gel polish, soak-off gelGel polish cured under UV/LED lamp — lasts 2-3 weeks.
- Gel PedicureAlso called: Shellac pedicure, gel polish pedicurePedicure finished with gel polish cured under UV/LED lamp.
- Medical PedicureAlso called: med pedi, podiatry pedicure, Margaret Dabbs pedicureDry, non-invasive pedicure performed by trained specialists for clients with diabetes, circulation issues, or nail conditions.
- Nail Strengthening TreatmentsAlso called: IBX, nail repair treatment, nail bond treatmentTreatments applied to natural nails to strengthen and protect — usually cured under lamp.
- Polygel NailsAlso called: poly gel, gel-acrylic hybridHybrid product combining acrylic strength with gel ease — applied like putty and cured under lamp.
- Press-On NailsAlso called: adhesive nails, stick-on nails, nail tipsPre-made artificial nails applied with adhesive — temporary, no curing needed.
Where it is restricted
Conditions this category is restricted for
Computed from the verdicts on the condition pages — most restricted first.
- A high temperature (fever)10 to avoid
- A mole that is changing10 to avoid
- A new tattoo10 to avoid
- Alcohol intoxication10 to avoid
- An open wound or broken skin10 to avoid
- Angina (unstable)10 to avoid
- Blood clot in the leg (active DVT)10 to avoid
- Boils10 to avoid
- Brain haemorrhage (acute)10 to avoid
- Bullous pemphigoid10 to avoid
- Cellulitis10 to avoid
- Chickenpox10 to avoid
- Common cold10 to avoid
- COVID-1910 to avoid
- Dark stripe down the nail (longitudinal melanonychia)10 to avoid
- Dermatitis herpetiformis10 to avoid
- Erysipelas10 to avoid
- Flu10 to avoid
- Heart attack (first six weeks)10 to avoid
- Impetigo10 to avoid
- MRSA10 to avoid
- Pemphigus10 to avoid
- Recent chemical peel10 to avoid
- Recent laser treatment10 to avoid
- Recent surgery (any operation)10 to avoid
- Severe dehydration10 to avoid
- Shingles10 to avoid
- Stroke (first six months)10 to avoid
- Tuberculosis (TB)10 to avoid
- Tummy bug10 to avoid
- Food allergies10 needing caution
- Fragrance allergy10 needing caution
- Hay fever and seasonal allergies10 needing caution
- Latex allergy10 needing caution
- Nickel and metal allergy10 needing caution
- Preservative allergy10 needing caution
- Skin growing into the nail (nail pterygium)10 needing caution
- Nail fungus9 to avoid
- Warts7 to avoid
- Nail lifting off the nail bed (onycholysis)5 to avoid
- Porphyria (the light-sensitive types)5 to avoid
- Splinter haemorrhage (red-brown lines under the nail)5 to avoid
- Brittle nails5 needing caution
- Discoid lupus5 needing caution
- Lupus5 needing caution
- Lupus5 needing caution
- Subacute cutaneous lupus5 needing caution
- Athlete's foot4 to avoid
- Nail biting (onychophagy)4 to avoid
- Verrucas4 to avoid
- Nail biting (onychophagy)4 needing caution
- Type 1 diabetes3 needing caution
- Type 2 diabetes2 to avoid
- Asthma2 needing caution
- Type 2 diabetes2 needing caution
- Ingrown toenail1 to avoid
Sources
- EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology)EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (Smolen et al.)
- Journal of the American Academy of DermatologyCosmetic treatment in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases: best practices for patients with lupus erythematosus (Bonnet et al.)
- British Association of DermatologistsGuidelines for the management of bullous pemphigoid
- International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid FoundationLiving with pemphigus and pemphigoid
- American Diabetes AssociationFoot care and diabetes
- Diabetes UKLooking after your feet with diabetes
- NHSDiabetes and foot problems
- NICENG28 — Type 2 diabetes in adults: management
- BMC Pregnancy and ChildbirthFatal pulmonary embolism following leg massage in undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (case report)
- British Heart FoundationHeart Matters — patient information, massage and complementary therapy guidance
- British Association of DermatologistsBacterial skin infection management
- NHSBoils and carbuncles
- NHSMRSA
- NHSCellulitis and erysipelas
- NHSImpetigo
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: impetigo
- UKHSAUK Standards for Microbiology Investigations
- NHSCOVID-19
- NHSCommon cold
- NHSFlu (influenza)
- NHSDiarrhoea and vomiting (gastroenteritis)
- UKHSALiving safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
- NHSChickenpox
- Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsChickenpox in pregnancy
- UKHSAChickenpox (varicella): guidance
- CDCUniversal precautions for prevention of transmission of bloodborne infections
- NHSHIV and AIDS — how HIV is transmitted
- National AIDS TrustHIV guidance for hairdressers and beauty professionals
- StatPearls / NCBIUniversal precautions (Kopitnik & Kahwaji)
- UK ParliamentEquality Act 2010, Schedule 1
- British Association of DermatologistsOnychomycosis guidelines
- NHSFungal nail infection
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: fungal nail infection
- British Association of DermatologistsHerpes zoster management
- NHSShingles
- UKHSAImmunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book), chapter 28a — Shingles (herpes zoster)
- NHSTuberculosis (TB)
- NICENG33 Tuberculosis
- UKHSATuberculosis: guidance, data and analysis
- UKHSANotifiable diseases and causative organisms: how to report
- NHS Scotland (Scottish Dermatology Society)Viral warts pathway
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: warts and verrucae
- Primary Care Dermatology SocietyWarts and verrucae — patient information leaflet
- American Family PhysicianNail Abnormalities: Clues to Systemic Disease
- MSD Manual (Professional Version)Nail deformities and dystrophies
- Primary Care Dermatology SocietyNail disorders — clinical guidance
- PubMed CentralBrittle nail syndrome — review (PMC8896184)
- Indian Journal of DermatologyNail as a window of systemic diseases (Singal & Arora)
- British Association of DermatologistsNail unit melanoma — guidelines
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceNG12 — Suspected cancer: recognition and referral
- Peer-reviewed (Levit et al.)ABCDEF criteria for nail unit melanoma
- BFRB UK (TLC Foundation)Body-focused repetitive behaviour support
- Asthma + Lung UKBronchiectasis
- OrphanetYellow nail syndrome
- American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsSkin conditions during pregnancy
- NHSPregnancy skincare guidance
- NHSBody image and self-esteem
- UK Obesity FederationDignity, equipment and access in service settings
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsPost-operative recovery timelines
- NHSRecovering from an operation
- Royal College of Surgeons of EnglandRecovering from surgery — patient information
- Equality and Human Rights CommissionReasonable adjustments for disabled people — guidance for service providers
- MencapCommunicating with people with a learning disability
- RNIBServing customers with sight loss
- RNIDCommunication tips for serving deaf customers
- ScopeMaking services accessible to disabled customers
- UK Parliament (legislation.gov.uk)Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended, Northern Ireland)
- British Association of DermatologistsSkin cancer recognition guidance
- NHSMoles and the ABCDE checks for melanoma
- American Academy of DermatologyPost-procedure healing guidance
- General Medical Council (UK)Good Medical Practice
- UK legislationMental Capacity Act 2005
- Asthma + Lung UKAsthma triggers
- British Thoracic SocietyAsthma guideline
- NHSAsthma
- British Association of DermatologistsPatch testing — patient information
- British Contact Dermatitis SocietyContact allergy guidance
- UK legislationThe Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013
- British Thyroid FoundationThyroid disorders — patient information
- NHSUnderactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- NICE Clinical Knowledge SummariesHypothyroidism
- British Menopause SocietyMenopause — clinical guidance for patients
- NHSMenopause and perimenopause
- NICEMenopause: identification and management (NG23)
- The Menopause CharityMenopause symptoms and skin changes
- Archives of DermatologyCutaneous lupus erythematosus following laser-induced thermal injury
- Lupus Foundation of AmericaRepairing skin damaged by lupus, and patient guidance on cosmetic procedures
- PubMed Central (peer-reviewed case report)Intense pulsed light improves facial telangiectasia in systemic lupus erythematosus
- British Porphyria AssociationLight sensitivity and the cutaneous porphyrias
- European Porphyria NetworkCutaneous porphyrias — light protection guidance
- NHSPorphyria
- UK Porphyria Service (NHS Highly Specialised Services)Cutaneous porphyria — patient guidance
- JAMA DermatologyASDS Guidelines Task Force: consensus recommendations regarding the safety of lasers, dermabrasion, chemical peels, energy devices and skin surgery during and after isotretinoin use (Waldman et al.)
- Peer-reviewed dermatology (PMC)Standard guidelines of care: procedures in patients on isotretinoin
- American Academy of DermatologyVitiligo — diagnosis and treatment
- British Association of DermatologistsVitiligo guidelines
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceClinical Knowledge Summary — Vitiligo
- Epilepsy ActionPhotosensitive epilepsy — information
- Epilepsy SocietyPhotosensitive epilepsy
- International League Against EpilepsyPhotosensitivity and seizures — consensus material
- NHSEpilepsy
- NHSPostural (orthostatic) hypotension
- British Association of DermatologistsNail clinical assessment standards
- NHSEndocarditis (heart infection) — signs and symptoms
- Age UKWellbeing, touch and personal care in later life
- British Geriatrics SocietyFit for Frailty — recognising and managing frailty
- NICENG56 — Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management
- Hospice UKComplementary therapies and personal care in hospice settings
- Look Good Feel Better UKNail care, skin care and makeup during cancer treatment
- Macmillan Cancer SupportComplementary therapies and wellbeing
- Marie CurieComfort, dignity and personal care at the end of life
- Alzheimer's SocietyDementia — information and support
- Dementia UKPersonal care and wellbeing in dementia
- NICEDementia: assessment, management and support (NG97)
- British Association of DermatologistsTinea (dermatophyte infection) management
- NHSRingworm and other fungal infections
- NHSAthlete's foot
- NICEClinical Knowledge Summary: fungal skin infection
- Primary Care Dermatology SocietyFungal skin infections
- NICEDiabetic foot problems: prevention and management (NG19)
- College of Podiatry (UK)Ingrown toenails — patient information
- NHSIngrown toenail
- National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceClinical Knowledge Summaries — Ingrown toenail
Written by Anna · London-trained cosmetologist
Last updated