{"id":126803,"date":"2025-03-26T12:25:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T12:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nailknowledge.org\/?p=126803"},"modified":"2025-04-14T15:38:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T15:38:51","slug":"esmalte-en-gel-despues-de-la-quimioterapia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nailknowledge.org\/es\/blog\/gel-polish-after-chemotherapy","title":{"rendered":"Esmalte en gel despu\u00e9s de la quimioterapia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00bfCu\u00e1ndo es seguro volver a hacerse la manicura?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy is a battle, a test of resilience, and for many, a transformative journey. But alongside its life-saving power, it takes a toll on the body, and nails are no exception. Brittle, ridged, discoloured, or even lifting from the nail bed, these are common post-chemo concerns. And now that the treatment is over, a question arises: when is it safe to indulge in a little self-care and wear gel polish after chemotherapy? Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Chemo\u2019s Impact on Nails<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your nails are like a reflection of what\u2019s happening inside your body. Chemotherapy doesn\u2019t just attack cancer cells, it affects fast-growing cells everywhere, including those responsible for nail growth. That\u2019s why many people notice their nails becoming weak, peeling, or developing dark streaks during treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some chemo drugs are harsher on nails than others. Taxanes, for example, are notorious for causing nail damage. In some cases, nails may even separate from the nail bed (a condition called onycholysis), it\u2019s also possible that chemotherapy toxins in the blood leak from the nail bed where the weakest blood capillaries are and that\u2019s not only extremely painful its dangerous for the nail tech. Given all this, it\u2019s understandable why doctors often advise against wearing esmalte en gel<\/a> during treatment, your nails need to be carefully monitored especially for color changes – and need be, given time to heal. Not doing so is plain foolish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Por qu\u00e9 el lecho ungueal es especialmente vulnerable durante la quimioterapia<\/strong>
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Fig 1: 1 a\u00f1o despu\u00e9s de la \u00faltima quimioterapia hasta que el lecho ungueal est\u00e1 (casi) totalmente recuperado. \u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1-1: Leakage of chemotherapy through the capillaries of the nail bed.-2: Start of healing process the nail bed is still irritated and the nail plate is being forced out of the paronychium cup due to oedema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1-3: Almost full recovery of the nail bed \u2013 where the little white arrow is the nail bed is still showing signs of irritation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When nailbeds are affected by leakage of chemotherapy because the blood capillary\u2019s get damaged, the recovery of those capillary\u2019s can be a long, hard, ugly road and nail hygiene is paramount to stop any secondary infections from taking place. When oedema forces the nail plate out of the paronychium cup the worst thing you can do is apply any or all artificial nail products, the nail plate needs to be handled in such a way that the nail plate remains flexible and if need be a non-stick dressing (soft foam bandage) can be applied to stabilize the nail plate. Patients can also experience neuropathic symptoms that can be excruciating and again DO NOT do anything to the nails apart from good nail hygiene and maintenance and keep the free edge short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U\u00f1as despu\u00e9s de la quimio: Por qu\u00e9 la recuperaci\u00f3n es diferente para cada persona<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But post-treatment? That\u2019s when things get a little tricky. While the urge to get back to normal is strong, patience is key when it comes to your nail health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fig 2: El mismo cliente, la misma u\u00f1a. 1 a\u00f1o despu\u00e9s del final de la quimio, un retroceso cuya causa se est\u00e1 investigando.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2-4: 14 months after the end of chemotherapy \u2013 the nail bed starts to show signs of irritation and onycholysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2-5: 14 months and 21 days later, onycholysis is extreme and client is experiencing pain where the nail bed is red, there are no signs of hyperkeratosis or blood splinters \u2013 just clear clean detachment of the nail plate from the nail bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2-6: Although at the right lateral nail wall of this same finger it \u2018looks like\u2018 it could be a blister, there are no signs of blistering, hyperkeratosis or extreme desquamation of nail bed cells when we look down the barrel of the nail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We tested these nails for fungi or Candida, these tests were negative. Client does not use any nail coatings and is almost obsessive about hand and nail care. There is no conceivable reason from the outside for this nail plate detachment \u2013 None, but \u2026 something is happening and because of this clients medical history we have referred her back to the Oncologist and Dermatologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Nail Recovery Doesn\u2019t Go as Expected<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With all our knowledge we cannot find a conceivable reason for this sudden nail bed irritation and onycholysis \u2013 if you don\u2019t have this knowledge and your client just wants pretty nails you MUST refuse service \u2013 you will not be insured for any or all damage that may or may not be caused by applying any or all artificial nail products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Ain\u2019t Over Till It\u2019s Over<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes nails need more time. After your immune system has been broken down by chemo or immune therapy, the slightest little thing can affect the nail unit. Do not use any artificial nail products on nails showing any onycholysis or nail wall separation. Let the specialists that the client is still seeing find the cause and wait, your client will thank you for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its tough, your client has survived the hell that is cancer, he\/she lost all her hair, her body swelled in all directions, her nail plates were hanging off, her operations were hard, the scars visible – he\/she got through all of that and all he\/she wants is to be \u2018normal\u2019 to look good, to get on with his\/her life \u2013 how much harm can pretty nails cause?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spent 14 months fighting to hold on to these nail plates \u2013 if we do something now that compromises them in the name of beauty and this client would get a secondary fungal or bacterial infection she could still lose her fingers \u2013 That\u2019s not what were here for \u2013 we are educated nail techs, nothing more and nothing less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is every client is different \u2013 There is one guarantee ***No todos los cuerpos reaccionan de la misma manera a las mismas terapias y no todas las terapias reaccionan de la misma manera en cuerpos diferentes***.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

El cuidado de las u\u00f1as durante y despu\u00e9s de la quimioterapia debe limitarse \u00fanicamente a manicuras sencillas, pasivas y no invasivas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people don\u2019t suffer too much, others almost loose their minds because the neuropathic pain in their nail units is unbearable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regla n\u00ba 1: NO CAUSAR DA\u00d1O<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n