Post on 01-Mar-2020
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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