Written by: Deepa Sarkar
16 March 2026
Numerous chemicals in nail polish have been linked to potential health risks. Knowing what the ingredients in your nail polish are will help you make safer choices regarding beauty products.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Toluene can cause headaches, dizziness, and irritation with repeated exposure.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Formaldehyde can irritate skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. Sometimes used in nail polish to help harden the formula.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Sometimes linked to hormone disruption; long-term exposure may impact overall health.
Photo Credit: Freepik
It may cause headache or discomfort in breathing when there is poor ventilation and frequent use.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Frequent use of nail polish and removers can cause nails to become dry, pale, brittle, or weak.
Photo Credit: Freepik
As a safer alternative, you can look for polishes labeled as "3-free" or "5-free," or those that are labeled as "non-toxic" and do not contain certain identified harmful chemicals.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Between applications, allow your nails to "breathe" and use nail care items in well-ventilated areas to enhance safety.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next!
Video Credit: Tata 1mg