In the liquid monomer and powder polymer system, Benzoyl Peroxide is the initiator. An initiator is what provides the start of a chemical reaction. In the L&P system, the room temperature and the heat from the finger are the energy that gives the initiator (BPO) the ‘starting gun’ to react with the catalyst in the liquid monomer, which is the ingredient that controls the speed of the reaction.
Polymer powder is not actually a powder. It is manufactured beads of a copolymer that are coated with several ingredients. One of these is BPO, and the other main one is pigment. There are others but we are focussing on BPO.
When the monomer liquid and the polymer powder meet the BPO, coating the polymer beads, splits to create the equivalent of free radicals that search out and encourage the monomers to form into long polymer chains. In the correct bead ratio, all of the BPO is used up. Too wet, and there may not be enough BPO to complete the polymerization. Too dry, and it is difficult to work with, plus some BPO may be leftover and unable to complete its ‘work’.
BPO is an ingredient commonly used in skin preparations. At low percentages (e.g. 2.5%), it can be found in medicated skin cleansers. In higher percentages (e.g 5-10%), it is used for skin conditions such as acne. There are published warnings about the use of BPO. It can be an irritant and, for a very small number of people, it can be an allergen. The warnings advise to look out for these signs.
A finales de los 90 y principios de los 2000, algunos países europeos quisieron prohibir el BPO en los productos para las uñas debido a las advertencias. Esta decisión fue recurrida y el recurso fue estimado. Esto se basa en el hecho de que se utiliza en preparados de venta libre para la piel, además, con un uso correcto, se agota por completo en el proceso de polimerización. El resultado es que el BPO es EL iniciador del sistema L&P.
However, the ‘dip system’ has, over recent years, become popular in some areas. Rather than making nail professionals buy two different sets of polymer powders, many brands are providing their coloured polymer powders to be of dual-use: for the L&P sistema + una inmersión sistema.
Aparte de los problemas de higiene con el sistema de inmersión (fáciles de solucionar), esto no es necesariamente un problema A MENOS que usted o sus clientes sean sensibles a la BPO.
For those that are exhibiting allergic reactions and actually managing to get a dermatological patch test, there are now a few that have become allergic to the BPO in some ‘dipping powders’. Specifically, those that are ‘dual purpose’ and have the BPO coating.
The BPO plays NO part in the chemical reaction for neither the UV gel dipping system nor the cyanoacrylate systems. They both cure without the need for that ingredient.
I must stress that a BPO allergy is relatively uncommon (but, once upon a time, so was the allergy to UV cured materials). With so many exhibiting allergic reactions, many are becoming more sensitized to allergens.
There are some brands that provide pigmented polymers with no BPO as a single-use product. Many nail pros are often unwilling to purchase separate powders in enough colours if they are an L&P tech!
El conocimiento es poder. Sé consciente de esta situación y decide por ti mismo.
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