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had acrylic nails on for the past three months. I’ve just had them removed and my own nails are in a bad state. Should I allow them time to heal? nail is an extension of your skin. It is grown from skin cells and, if the nail or nail bed becomes damaged, it can take a long time to repair. Vigorous scraping and filing can lead to permanent damage where the nail lifts from the nail bed. There is also risk of infection if manicure instruments are not sterilised properly. Fungal infections, bacteria and viruses such as herpes can all be passed on.

Some nail varnishes and hardeners also contain ingredients such as formaldehyde, which can trigger an allergic reaction.

If you like a professional manicure, your therapist should be the first point of contact and you should have an adequate understanding of what to expect before you get your nails done.

You can also take your own tools to the salon to reduce the risk of infection.

It may also be worth limiting your trips to the manicure salon to one or two a year.

Finally, it is best to make sure your technician is BABTAC validated.

If you’re worried, speak to a pharmacist about any concerns.