CHEMICAL DANGERS IN THE

SALON

Safety precautions for using

these agents safely

Dr. Robert Spalding

Chemicals to be Discussed Tonight

ACETONE

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) also known as

glycolics, fruit acids, lactic acid

UREA OTC vs Prescription

Potassium Hydroxide and Sodium

Hydroxide used in callus removers

ACETONE VS NON-ACETONE

IS ACETONE HARMFUL?

No, when used for polish removal and occasional

removal of artificial nails

Can irritate the skin causing a rash or burning feeling

on contact if the skin is sensitive

Repeated exposure can cause drying and cracking of the

skin.

Very flammable, static electricity can ignite, sweaters

and several salon clients have been extensively burned

When exposed to air, evaporates quickly

Heat of skin evaporates it quickly = very little toxicity

Excessive use = dry skin

ARE NON-ACETONE REMOVERS BETTER?

Solvents similar to acetone

Ingredients: most include ethyl and/or butyl

acetate

Remove polish and acrylic much slower

Can irritate the skin causing a rash or burning

feeling on contact. – the same as acetone

Repeated exposure can cause drying and cracking of

the skin

Is also flammable and very volatile

NAIL TECH CRITICALLY INJURED IN SALON

ACCIDENT APRIL 1, 2001

It was a common salon practice that this time resulted in

tragedy. On January 9, Debra Greenwood, owner of Nails

Desire in Knoxville, Tenn., was heating acetone in a glass

bowl in the salon microwave when the acetone ignited. The

pressure blew open the door of the microwave and engulfed

Greenwood in flames.

According to the January 11 edition of the Knoxville News-

Sentinel, Greenwood ran from the salon with her face, hair,

and clothing on fire. Employees pursued and extinguished

the flames, but not before Greenwood had suffered third-

degree burns over 15% of her body.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that Greenwood’s

employees told the fire department that they regularly

heated acetone in the microwave. because heated acetone

removes acrylics faster.

NAIL SALON ACETONE SKIN BURN

May 2009

The Baltimore Sun reported that a woman

in Northwest Baltimore suffered second-

degree burns over 40 percent of her body

when a bowl of heated acetone ignited

while she was having her artificial nails

removed

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/05/0

1/nailing-down-safety.aspx

OTHER ACETONE FIRES

HONOLULU 10/14/2012 — A acetone fire in a

Manoa nail salon injured one woman critically and

sent others scrambling for help.

Bridgeton NJ March 17 2014 - Relaxation was

breached at one New Jersey shop when a

dissatisfied customer attacked two employees with

acetone over a broken nail. Hakera D Cochran, 29,

went to get her nails done at Mei Holiday Nails in

Bridgeton on Friday, but returned to the salon later

iwhen one of her nails broke. She got into an

argument with the staff and sprayed acetone over

two employees..

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-

2582466/Woman-29-arrested-spraying-two-salon-

employees-acetone-face-broken-

nail.html#ixzz3eUfuIOPR

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail

on Facebook

COMMENT

If you go for speed…….

use pure acetone

Basically, it is your choice:

Non-acetone or Acetone

Neither are toxic….

Unless you drink them

ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS (AHA) ALSO KNOWN

AS GLYCOLICS, FRUIT ACIDS, LACTIC ACID

Exfoliate, used in cosmetic treatments to increase the turn over of cells and soften the skin

Follow product instructions closely. Acids will burn the skin, cause blisters/peeling - Test

the skin with application on small area for 1 minute

APPLY ONLY ON THE CALLUSES

Always rinse off after use

Damage severity usually depends on the pH and the concentration of the acid used, and if applied on un-callused skin/left too long, damage can happen

ALPHA HYDROXY ACIDS (AHA)

Good ingredients for home care lotions Increases turn over of skin = fewer calluses

Usually 10-12% (in home care)

It is unusual, but some people immediately turn red

Usually glycolic or lactic acid (or both)

Professional: usually more than 20%; never use them in higher % in a salon setting Perform patch test

Wash off according to instructions

UREA

Urea is an osmotic gradient that forces the semi-

permeable membrane between the dermal layers

and epidermis draw water into the outer

epidermis.

Known for high softening capability

Urea in professional and home care products is

usually 10%, with other softening ingredients.

Prescription versions start above 25% and higher

to 50% for severe fissures under occlusion

Caution: If high concentrations of urea are used

for too long or too often it can dry out the outer

tissues by loosing too much water.

OPEN HEEL FISSURES (CAUTION) PAINFUL..

REFER IF BLEEDING/INFECTED IE DIABETICS

REMEMBER: NEUROPATHIC PATIENTS ARE

SUBJECT TO NEUROPATHIC DERMATITIS

LCN PRODUCTS NOW HAVE 40% UREA

UREA based product: Footlogix® very popular in the salon

market and works well if used as directed for callus care

OTHER NON-PRESCRIPTION OTC UREA 20-25%

Amazon.com surprise

Gormel*

Pedinol*

Allpresan

Gehwol

PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH UREA 30-50%

FINAL PRECAUTION:

USE OF ALL LOTIONS ON THE FEET

Lotions should never be allowed between

the toes for extended periods of time unless

they are prescribed as anti-fungals for that

purpose

Lotion ingredients without antifungals

placed regularly in the interdigital areas

feed dermatophytes and cause increased

incidence of fungal infections

Educate the client on this also

INTERDIGITAL MACERATIONS

AVOID USE OF UREA BASED CREAMS

AGGRESSIVE/CORROSIVE

CALLUS PRODUCTS WITH KOH

HOW IS POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE (KOH)

USED IN COSMETOLOGY

Used to remove hair by “dissolving” or

chemically burning off the hair

Used as hair relaxer; drastically

alters/breaks disulfide bonds (keratin) on

hair

Used to “remove calluses”

Some products have more KOH; must follow

time instructions

Callus Eliminator, Blue Cross, and others

PERIODIC CHART OF ELEMENTS

POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE (KOH)

WHAT IS POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE (KOH)?

• One of the strongest caustic alkali element (just under Sodium Hydroxide i.e. Lye) on the periodic chart that can cause blindness if exposed to eyes and 2nd or 3rd degree burns to skin

• Use in Explosives i.e. Gunpowder KNO3 (saltpeter)

• Explosive with water in pure solid form and has to be stored in mineral oil

• Liquid Soap production with seed oils (palm, coconut, olive)

• Food additives and used as imitation salt

• List goes on - one of the most commonly used elements for manufacturing products in the world

KOH PRODUCTS

KOH IN CALLUS REMOVER

KOH or potassium hydroxide, commonly

referred to as “Potash”

in the old days ashes from burned wood from fires

combined with water formed lye, a severe corrosive.

Usual use: to soften the skin to make calluses

easier to reduce

Correctly used, callus removers are callus

SOFTENERS, not “removers”

Unwise technicians want a higher KOH %

product to shorten the pedicure or over-extend

the time of application to the skin

MSDS SHEET ON CALLOUS REMOVER

HOW THE CHEMICAL BURN OCCURS

FROM KOH

1. Burns

Surface

skin

2. Travels

down pores

3. Travels

into hair

follicle

4. Travels into

sweat glands

JENNY HOWELL (age 62)

• June 11, 2010, Howell stepped into a

national chain of nail salons in a Wal-

Mart in Pensacola, Florida to get a

pedicure and manicure service to treat

herself for her anniversary

• Result: Walked out with a nightmare of

permanent pain, surgery and reduction of

mobility

• She did have some existing health

problems but was not asked

SECOND DEGREE CHEMICAL BURN

Skin was burned with a common salon callous remover agent

Caused 2nd degree burn by prolonged application of callus remover. Surgical spinal implant stimulator was installed just so Jenny can walk to minimize the pain.

Technician could not speak or read English Could not read the instructions

Did not understand when Jenny told her it was burning on her feet and arms

Regal Nails was sued; Dr. Spalding was consulted & testified in the trail. A 2M award was secured in 9/13

MY PATIENT WITH BURNED FOOT THAT IS

SEEN ON A 10 WEEK INTERVAL SINCE 1999

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE

DIFFERENTLY?

1. Better communication between client & nail

tech

2. Educate Nail Tech and Client on products

being used on skin

3. Ask for a manager if English is poor

QUESTIONS

If you have questions, email DR Spalding at

rts9999999@aol.com

Call 423-805-7966 or 756-FOOT(3668) to speak to

Dr. Spalding

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