Thurs. July 10th we watched a 20/20 special on a chemical called Methyl
Methacrylate (MMA). This video we watched is about 2 yrs old however but the
contents of the video are still very much still in affect and the laws for
the Dallas/Ft. Worth area are still in affect for this chemical. However,
DISCOUNT nail salons and supply stores are still using and selling this
dangerous chemical. What is Methyl Methacrylate and why was the video so
disturbing?
Methyl Methacrylate, or MMA, originated in the dental industry for making
crowns and bridges. It is also used as bone cement by orthopedic surgeons
during joint replacement procedures, in some flooring products, resins, and
Plexiglas. This chemical was not designed to come in contact with skin or
nails. Did you ever have to wait for a permanent crown to be made in a lab?
The reason for this is that MMA, while in a liquid state, should be used in
a controlled laboratory environment by properly trained technicians. When
MMA is not dangerous is when it has hardened.
In the late 1960s and 70's, some nail technicians began using MMA for
acrylic nail services because it was less expensive than the safer
alternative, ethyl methacrylate. Due to numerous consumer complaints, the
FDA determined that any manufacturer who used MMA in nail products was using
a 'poisonous and deleterious substance,' and in 1974 took action against a
manufacturer for doing so. In this video showed, the reactions were
horrifying. They were very disturbing as well. MMA is a very potent
chemical, so potent that like acid it can soak through your nail bed and
into one’s blood stream causing cracks in the natural nails where eventually
they will fall off and never grow back. In SOME cases, the reactions were so
bad that lesions on the skin (face, neck and arms) began to show.
So how do I know my nail salon is using MMA? Although, it is illegal, even
in Texas there are still some salons, including Dallas/Ft. Worth area that
the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation board has tested and found
MMA in their products. Every salon MUST have (in accordance to the TDLR) a
MSDS on all the products they use in their salons. This is a Material Safety
Data Sheet. If they refuse to share this with you or say they don’t have one
you need to leave and do NOT let them service you! Beware, some discount
salons can still purchase MMA from discount beauty supply warehouses or
stores disguised in containers that are TDLR approved. In this case, the
chemical will have to be tested.
Well, how would you know if you don’t have the proper tools to chemically
test for the MMA chemical? Here are some signs to look for when getting your
sculptured nails.
1. Avoid discount salons all together – I know ladies that when we want
to have those pretty acrylic or gel nails we don’t necessarily want to pay
the price at a high dollar salon. You pay for what you get! If their sign on
the outside window says full set and the price is less than $30 you should
probably reconsider.
2. MMA is not recommended for use in acrylic nail products because it
is much too hard, and can tear the nail off the finger easily. It is also
solvent resistant, which makes it very difficult to remove. It takes a long
time to remove MMA when soaking in acetone. All that prying to get them
off…probably contained MMA. This is if the nails have been on for 2 weeks or
longer and they are still hard to remove.
3. After leaving the salon nails begin to hurt under the nail bed. Loss
of feeling in the fingertips could be a sign also.
4. Many technicians damage the nail plate when prepping for MMA, since
that product needs grooves in the nail in order to stick well. A technician
should always protect and preserve the natural nail under any enhancement
product.
Not everyone has the blood stream affected reactions, just like anything
else, everyone is different. I don’t know about you, but I would rather not
take the chance on finding out if I was one of those in the percentile who
has a negative reaction to the MMA or methyl methacrylate. BEWARE they are
STILL out there and its ILLEGAL to use this substance.
