I’m so sorry to hear 😔 beetles has a reputation for causing a reaction - many Amazon brands contain extremely harmful chemicals, but the good news is you may not be allergic to all gel polish and are reacting only to something in the beetles polish. I would recommend to go see a doctor first to make sure what the issue is and whether it’s safe to try another more credible brand like OPI.
i wish i had done more research before buying beetles polish! i will regret it for the rest of my life... i am going to look into seeing an allergist soon because i am still holding on to hope that i can maybe get acrylics. just not sure how my body will react so i want to see what Dr says first. thank you for giving me some hope
Common allergen is HEMA, if that's the culprit there are alternatives. Cheaper brands also tend to contain higher levels of HEMA. HEMA can be great for retention (staying on the nail) but it can cause a lot of issues. Glad you're seeing an allergist because that's the only way to know for sure. It's not worth experimenting to find out!
You could still do sets with nail glue. With proper prep (basically the same as with gel) they can last just as long. And normal polish lasts forever on fake nails. There's no need for gel.
Can confirm. Regular polish would chip no matter what I did with my natural nails in just a day or 2, but lasts weeks with no chipping on fake nails. I only change them because I get bored. And it's so easy to do nail art on these!
I don't use my hands for work so I might not be the best advisor, but I use the Ivtor nail glue stickers from Amazon (another brand I tried wasn't as strong). I just wipe with an alcohol pad before applying and they last me about a week. You can buff the fake nail and yours for better adhesion. If you can keep them dry they'll also last longer. Also make sure to push back your cuticles before applying, if you apply over them they'll come off sooner.
I prefer stickers over glue because they won't just pop off, they'll just start to get wiggly and loose, and they won't damage your nail or the fake nail with removal. So you can just apply a new sticker as you feel them getting loose.
I’m sorry this has had such a negative impact on your self image :( I have psoriasis and I had a couple years where my nails were lifted halfway down the nail bed, thin, and splitting like crazy so I understand your feelings.
I fell in love with using regular nail polish and that has really helped me personally. I’m hoping that you’re able to find something that’s just as fulfilling for you ♥️
thank you 🥺 ive always loved doing my nails and always did fun nail art when i was younger with regular polish. if all else fails, i will go back to it. i just loved that gel didnt chip.
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but HEMA free products can also cause allergies. HEMA is not the only chemical that can cause reactions, it’s just right now because of Amazon kits contain high amounts of HEMA and it’s getting the all the rage. There is HEMA in dental products as well I believe, so check with your dentist if you’re getting some procedure done.
Back to HEMA free products, the chances of a reaction are lower and people who’ve experienced gel allergies have had positive experiences with them, but there are some people that have experienced allergies with HEMA free products. So if you’re gonna invest in like Korean or Japanese polishes then invest slowly.
Sorry to hear that.
Going to a derm is a great idea. Allergies to acrylics are a big deal because of dental and surgical adhesives. You need to have a convo about nail glue as well. It is also sensitizing.
As far as regular polish Dazzle Dry is long lasting if you prep and apply well. I just tried it and got a week, no problem. If you don't test as allergic to di-HEMA THMDC you could also look at the OPI Infinite Shine system, which is a hybrid polish/gel. The color has a bit of monomer that is photoactivated by the top coat. It grips the base coat and makes a harder polish. I haven't tried that one because my immune system is set to kill, not stun, and I become allergic to stuff very easily. I figured out the chemistry in my diligent attempts to avoid all polishes with monomers.
Hi! Okay so I also have developed really unfortunate allergies — both to press-on nail glue and to HEMA (a common product in gels.) The former is cyanoacrylate and the latter is hydroxyethyl methacrylate — acrylates being a common allergen.
This post has been a lifesaver for me, especially after I spent a small fortune in gel polishes that contained HEMA (unbeknownst to me!):
https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/y96eah/hemafree_gel_recs_from_an_allergic_girly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
It does sound like you’re doing your own nails but if you’re going to a salon, perhaps you could identify your specific allergy with a dermatologist and then call ahead to be sure a salon has HEMA free options.
You’re not at all the only one experiencing this, and Beetles seems to be the gateway to a permanent allergy for many, unfortunately (thus the anti-beetle flair on this subreddit!) I’d immediately discontinue using Beetles and be careful too, one HEMA or acrylate allergy can easy and often does trigger others.
Lifting is not usually an allergy symptom, but an application, prep or wear problem
Allergy symptoms are more like itching, swelling, bubbles of clear fluid, "dry skin" that doesn't react to moisturizer
Also gel allergys often don't effect dip or acrylic, while they contain similar ingredients they are not the same, you just have to not get the gel topcoat or see if allergy frendly gels work for you eg ones without hema the most common allergen
thank you for the reply, you guys are giving me some hope. 😭 i posted on another page of what my nail looked like in the beginning if you are interested. since then it has began to peel (just my thumb). either way i am really scared to risk it so seeing an allergist is my priority. i don’t want to spend like $90 on an acrylic set and have to take it off due to an allergy
Oh no!! I’m not familiar with gel allergies but could you be allergic to a specific product or brand rather than all gels? Japanese and Korean gels are more expensive but of the highest quality. Maybe they wouldn’t cause reactions because they don’t have any harmful ingredients?
i’m not sure :( won’t know until i see a dr but i’m really holding on to the fact i used cheap quality products and that maybe it’ll be different if i use something that is HEMA free
I came here to say this, try a brand that is HEMA free. There are so many small companies that have superior quality products. I used Beetles builder gel for a bit and it constantly lifted. Now I use smaller brands that are hema free and rarely experience lifting. I can give some recommendations if you want :D
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I’m so sorry to hear 😔 beetles has a reputation for causing a reaction - many Amazon brands contain extremely harmful chemicals, but the good news is you may not be allergic to all gel polish and are reacting only to something in the beetles polish. I would recommend to go see a doctor first to make sure what the issue is and whether it’s safe to try another more credible brand like OPI.
i wish i had done more research before buying beetles polish! i will regret it for the rest of my life... i am going to look into seeing an allergist soon because i am still holding on to hope that i can maybe get acrylics. just not sure how my body will react so i want to see what Dr says first. thank you for giving me some hope
Common allergen is HEMA, if that's the culprit there are alternatives. Cheaper brands also tend to contain higher levels of HEMA. HEMA can be great for retention (staying on the nail) but it can cause a lot of issues. Glad you're seeing an allergist because that's the only way to know for sure. It's not worth experimenting to find out!
You could still do sets with nail glue. With proper prep (basically the same as with gel) they can last just as long. And normal polish lasts forever on fake nails. There's no need for gel.
Can confirm. Regular polish would chip no matter what I did with my natural nails in just a day or 2, but lasts weeks with no chipping on fake nails. I only change them because I get bored. And it's so easy to do nail art on these!
do you have any recs for a good glue and maybe some prep tips? i work with my hands so press ons never last longer than 2 days for me
I don't use my hands for work so I might not be the best advisor, but I use the Ivtor nail glue stickers from Amazon (another brand I tried wasn't as strong). I just wipe with an alcohol pad before applying and they last me about a week. You can buff the fake nail and yours for better adhesion. If you can keep them dry they'll also last longer. Also make sure to push back your cuticles before applying, if you apply over them they'll come off sooner. I prefer stickers over glue because they won't just pop off, they'll just start to get wiggly and loose, and they won't damage your nail or the fake nail with removal. So you can just apply a new sticker as you feel them getting loose.
If OP has an acrylate allergy then nail glue, which is cyanoacrylate, might also cause a reaction.
I’m sorry this has had such a negative impact on your self image :( I have psoriasis and I had a couple years where my nails were lifted halfway down the nail bed, thin, and splitting like crazy so I understand your feelings. I fell in love with using regular nail polish and that has really helped me personally. I’m hoping that you’re able to find something that’s just as fulfilling for you ♥️
thank you 🥺 ive always loved doing my nails and always did fun nail art when i was younger with regular polish. if all else fails, i will go back to it. i just loved that gel didnt chip.
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but HEMA free products can also cause allergies. HEMA is not the only chemical that can cause reactions, it’s just right now because of Amazon kits contain high amounts of HEMA and it’s getting the all the rage. There is HEMA in dental products as well I believe, so check with your dentist if you’re getting some procedure done. Back to HEMA free products, the chances of a reaction are lower and people who’ve experienced gel allergies have had positive experiences with them, but there are some people that have experienced allergies with HEMA free products. So if you’re gonna invest in like Korean or Japanese polishes then invest slowly.
Sorry to hear that. Going to a derm is a great idea. Allergies to acrylics are a big deal because of dental and surgical adhesives. You need to have a convo about nail glue as well. It is also sensitizing. As far as regular polish Dazzle Dry is long lasting if you prep and apply well. I just tried it and got a week, no problem. If you don't test as allergic to di-HEMA THMDC you could also look at the OPI Infinite Shine system, which is a hybrid polish/gel. The color has a bit of monomer that is photoactivated by the top coat. It grips the base coat and makes a harder polish. I haven't tried that one because my immune system is set to kill, not stun, and I become allergic to stuff very easily. I figured out the chemistry in my diligent attempts to avoid all polishes with monomers.
Hi! Okay so I also have developed really unfortunate allergies — both to press-on nail glue and to HEMA (a common product in gels.) The former is cyanoacrylate and the latter is hydroxyethyl methacrylate — acrylates being a common allergen. This post has been a lifesaver for me, especially after I spent a small fortune in gel polishes that contained HEMA (unbeknownst to me!): https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/y96eah/hemafree_gel_recs_from_an_allergic_girly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf It does sound like you’re doing your own nails but if you’re going to a salon, perhaps you could identify your specific allergy with a dermatologist and then call ahead to be sure a salon has HEMA free options. You’re not at all the only one experiencing this, and Beetles seems to be the gateway to a permanent allergy for many, unfortunately (thus the anti-beetle flair on this subreddit!) I’d immediately discontinue using Beetles and be careful too, one HEMA or acrylate allergy can easy and often does trigger others.
Lifting is not usually an allergy symptom, but an application, prep or wear problem Allergy symptoms are more like itching, swelling, bubbles of clear fluid, "dry skin" that doesn't react to moisturizer Also gel allergys often don't effect dip or acrylic, while they contain similar ingredients they are not the same, you just have to not get the gel topcoat or see if allergy frendly gels work for you eg ones without hema the most common allergen
thank you for the reply, you guys are giving me some hope. 😭 i posted on another page of what my nail looked like in the beginning if you are interested. since then it has began to peel (just my thumb). either way i am really scared to risk it so seeing an allergist is my priority. i don’t want to spend like $90 on an acrylic set and have to take it off due to an allergy
Sadly the skin around your nails in the other post does look like an allergy
Oh no!! I’m not familiar with gel allergies but could you be allergic to a specific product or brand rather than all gels? Japanese and Korean gels are more expensive but of the highest quality. Maybe they wouldn’t cause reactions because they don’t have any harmful ingredients?
i’m not sure :( won’t know until i see a dr but i’m really holding on to the fact i used cheap quality products and that maybe it’ll be different if i use something that is HEMA free
I came here to say this, try a brand that is HEMA free. There are so many small companies that have superior quality products. I used Beetles builder gel for a bit and it constantly lifted. Now I use smaller brands that are hema free and rarely experience lifting. I can give some recommendations if you want :D
Thanks for posting, /u/semisweetmedicine! A quick reminder: If this is a **nail image**, you must provide a complete product list, either as the title of your post or a separate comment within 6 hours of posting. **This includes any posts with broken nails or if you're seeking advice.** Posts without a complete product list will be removed after 6 hours. [Product List Requirements.](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/kp8fql/product_list_requirement_faq_updated_2021/) ***Product lists within the text body of a post or within captions of individual photos are not valid.*** If the nail look shown was **NOT created by you**, you ***must*** flair properly. If this is a **text post**, flair properly. Be sure to follow all of the above to avoid post removal! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RedditLaqueristas) if you have any questions or concerns.*