Adverse nail reactions and paresthesia from "photobonded acrylate 'sculptured' nails".

There have become available, recently both in Paresthesia this country and abroad, “sculptured” artificial nails A long recognized, unique feature of allergic contact based on acrylates that are “photobonded. " The dermatitis caused by the acrylic monomer is a bonding is said to be similar to urestorative dental distressing paresthesia of the fingertips on the form of a bonding” commonly used by many dentists worldwide. burning sensation, tingling, and slight numbness.’ The After these nail preparations are serially paresthesia may persist for several weeks after the applied, including the acrylates, the hands are placed in dermatitis has subsided. I have also seen this type of a “photobonding box.” paresthesia in two orthodontists who became sensitized to the acrylic monomer in bonding cement. The Case Reports prolonged paresthesia caused by the monomer may be Dr. James E. Ethington of Greenfield, Wisconsin, due to the fact that acrylic monomer is a powerful recently informed me that two of his patients solvent that readily penetrates damaged skin and thus experienced and inflammatory reaction of the nails. and produces an inflammation of the nerve endings in the paronychia complicated by prolonged paresthesia of the fingers One report describes paresthesia that persisted fingertips following exposure to a “sculptured photonail for at least three months in a patient who was allergic to bonding” treatment. a hydroxyethyl methacrylate compound One month after I had received Dr. In 1957, the first reported cases of severe Ethington’s reports, I had occasion to treat a patient reaction to acrylic “sculptured” nails involved a who had returned from France, where she had received dermatologist with a severe disfiguring onychomycosis “photobonding sculptured nail treatment.” Her of all his fingers in the days before griseofulvin was symptoms and signs were very similar to those of Dr. available.’ In an attempt to improve the appearance of Ethington’s patients, including a severe paresthesia of his nails, he applied a mixture of methyl methacrylate the distal phalanges of all her fingers. She also had a monomer and acrylic polymer to fashion artificial nails. positive patch test reaction to methyl methacrylate An excruciatingly painful onychia and paronychia of all monomer. his fingernails occurred, which required treatment with Dr. Baran of Cannes, France, was kind strong opiates. The pain and discomfort persisted for enough to send me advertising for “nail bonding” that several weeks. was displayed at the “First Hand Congress” held in The Food and Drug Administration received so France in September, 1989. many complaints of severe reactions to methyl methacrylate monomer from consumers that, after litigation, on July 3, 1974, the District Court in Chicago Alexander A. Fisher, MD, the author of many articles and books issued an injunction prohibiting the further manufacture on contact dermatitis, is Clinical Professor of Dermatology at New York University Medical School. or interstate shipment of a product called “Long Nails,”