If you have sensitive skin on your hands and around your nails, chemicals, fragrances, and harsh ingredients used in conventional manicures can be a real pain. We mean that quite literally. And whether you want to fix up your nails at home or enjoy a pampering experience at a nail bar, you do not want things like irritation, redness, dryness, and burning skin to ruin the experience.
Studies show that, in the US, almost 45 percent of individuals claim to have sensitive skin, and while the face is the most common area of skin sensitivities, the hands are not far behind (1). Hand eczema, for example, is one of the most common types of eczema, often causing the fingers to swell and the skin on the hands to become red, sore, itchy, and dry (2). This is no fun at the best of times, but when you want to paint your nails at home or enjoy a mani with your besties, it can be extremely restrictive.
Sensitive skin on your hands, however, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy great-looking nails. On the contrary, it’s entirely possible. You simply need to be aware of the common irritants to avoid and be vigilant about the products used when doing, or indeed getting a manicure.
Read on for our complete guide to nail care for sensitive skin.
Why Is the Skin On Your Hands So Sensitive?
Sensitive skin on the hands can be caused by certain medical conditions, but in most cases, it’s due to environmental factors or exposure to chemicals or irritants.
As we’re sure you know, sensitive skin is reactive to external triggers. It makes sense, therefore, that the hands are a common site for sensitivities because, just like your face, they’re rarely covered and are exposed to the elements on a daily basis.
Your hands are also in constant contact with everyday household products that may contain potentially harmful ingredients. Frequent cleansing, for example, can strip the natural oils from your skin, compromising the barrier function and creating all sorts of irritating side effects. And, correct us if we’re wrong, but your hands get washed more than any other part of your body.
Add to this the fact that the skin on the back of your hands has very little fatty tissue and equally few sebaceous glands and it’s no wonder your poor hands are so prone to dryness and sensitivities.
Managing Sensitive Skin On Your Hands
Sensitive skin doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the pleasures of a manicure. But before you even think about what color polish you fancy, it’s important to do the groundwork to ensure the skin on your hands is as healthy as possible.
Below is an important checklist for helping you to achieve healthy skin on your hands:
Use gentle, fragrance-free hand soap
Wash your hands with lukewarm, never hot water, and try to keep hand washing and other wet work activities with your hands to a minimum. One way to do this? Wear gloves when gardening, washing dishes, and doing household chores
Moisturize regularly with fragrance-free hand cream
Avoid repeated use of strong, alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Deeply moisturize overnight by wearing cotton gloves over rich hand cream
Choose SkinSAFE 100 personal care products – not forgetting cleaning and laundry products
How To Nail A Gentle, Kind-To-Skin Manicure At Home
1. Gently Remove Old Nail Polish
While safe for most skin types, acetone is a very strong solvent and can strip away your skin’s natural oils. This can upset sensitive skin and cause adverse reactions like redness, itching, cracking, and redness. If you have reactive skin, therefore, your best bet is to choose an acetone-free nail polish remover. Apply it with a cotton pad and hold this against each nail for 10-15 seconds before wiping away. This will help reduce excess scrubbing.
2. Care For, But Never Cut Your Cuticles
Your cuticles are a very important thin layer of skin that protects your nails from infection and helps them to grow healthily. So don’t cut them away. Big mistake. Instead, apply cuticle oil (jojoba or olive oil work well) and gently push them back using a wooden orange stick wrapped in a tissue or cotton pad.
3. File Manually
Electronic nail files and buffers are intense and can create heat which has the potential to irritate your skin and cause breakage to your nails. To minimize this risk ditch the power tools in favor of manual files you have more control over. Gentle nail files that are made with fiberglass, crystal, or microfiber materials are a much kinder option for your tips and delicate nail beds.
4. Choose Skin-Friendly Products
When it comes to nail enamels, there are many potentially harmful ingredients to be aware of, but the three most common irritants to keep at arm’s length are tosylamide formaldehyde resin, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (3).
The good news is that these are relatively easy to avoid since big beauty brands like Pacifica, Zoya, Côte, JINsoon, Sundays and Ella + Mila are all completely free of these particular chemicals – and then some. Zoya, for example, is officially 10-free which means it’s free of 10 commonly used, potentially harmful nail care ingredients.
There are also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic options available which can help reduce irritation but be aware that these terms aren’t regulated so they can be a little misleading. Your best bet? Prioritize formulas that avoid the big bad three at the very least. Even better? Go for 5-, 7-, 9-, 10-, or 16-free formulations, all of which are readily available.
5 SkinSAFE 100 Products For Fabulous Nails At Home
1. Honeybee Gardens WaterColors Nail Enamel in Raspberry Sorbet
This water-based polish is free from strong, irritating chemicals (including the big three) and is also vegan- and earth-friendly. It comes in 22 gorgeous shades but we particularly love this rich, bright pink that looks great on fingers and toes all year long.
2. Ella + Mila Unscented Soy Nail Polish Remover
One of our favorite SkinSAFE 100 nail polish removers, this not only contains zero acetone or acetates, but it’s packed with ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E which your skin and nails will love. Sure it takes a little more time and effort than regular removers, but it’s worth it.
3. Orly Cutique
If you’re plagued with large cuticles, this is a very effective way to remove dead skin without having to cut away at them. Simply apply a small amount to your cuticles, allow the product to sit for up to 60 seconds, then gently push them back and rinse with clean water. Simple.
4. Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Hand Cream
Containing plant-derived squalane, vegan glycerin, and omega fatty acids, this beautifully rich hand cream offers intense hydration, comfort, and protection. Incredible for even the driest, most irritated of hands.
Founded and created by bio-organic chemist, Dr. Valenty, Dazzle Dry prides itself on showcasing a whole system of nail care products that are free from harmful chemicals, animal byproducts, and animal testing. This base coat contains just four ingredients and will protect your nails from staining while helping your mani last for days.
Prefer A Professional Mani? Then Remember These Important Tricks:
If you’re not much of a nail pro and prefer the professional touch here are a few important dos and don’ts to remember.
✔️DO research reputable salons that prioritize hygiene, customer service, and high-quality, non-toxic products.
✔️DO inform your nail technician about your sensitivities before your appointment and ask if they offer options to suit your skin. A good technician should happily be able to accommodate.
✘DON’T be afraid to take your favorite, trusted products along to your appointment for peace of mind.
✔️DO skip the hot water soak. This can strip natural oils from your skin and exacerbate irritation.
✘DON’T let them cut your cuticles or use powerful electronic tools.
✔️DO give gel and acrylic manicures a miss as these contain the highest concentration of potential irritants. Consider soft gel overlays or dip powder nails if you want a longer-lasting mani.
✔️DO ensure your technician uses LED rather than UV lamps to minimize damage and irritation to your skin.
✘DON’T pick off gel or acrylic nail products as this damages the nail bed and the skin around the nails. Always get them removed by a professional.
