What is Methyl Methacrylate? Methyl Methacrylate, (or MMA) is a liquid monomer banned for use in the nail industry by the Food and Drug Administration. MMA was used largely in the early 70's as an inexpensive substitute for conventional acrylic liquid. It was banned due to the severe poisonous reactions it caused in customers and nail techs.
Why should I be concerned? The use of MMA is on the rise in many "discount" nail salons to cut down on costs. (MMA is approximately $180 cheaper per gallon than acrylic liquid.) This is one of the reasons why these types of salons can charge such low prices.
What are some of the signs I should be aware of? Nail salons using MMA will be very secretive about the brand names of the products they are using. Nail techs will wear masks to avoid the poisonous chemicals MMA gives out. Nails sculptured with MMA have a harder surface than regular acrylic nails and are very difficult and painful to remove. (Sometimes taking up to 2 hours.) Nail techs will use drills instead of files because the surface of the nail is so hard. There is also a distinctive odor to MMA, which is different from regular acrylic.
What are some of the symptoms? Some of the symptoms caused by the use of MMA include, (1) tingling or numbness of the fingers, (2) whitening of the fingers (3} Deformity of the fingernails, (4) Severe allergic reaction, or even contact dermatitis.
What can I do to prevent exposure? Recognizing the warning signs is the best way to prevent exposure. Always make sure your nail tech has his/her license visibly posted. Check to see if your nail tech is using products with name brand labels. Don't be afraid to ask your nail tech questions about their products and procedures. A properly trained nail tech will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Where can I get more information? You can contact the Food and Drug Administration at (800) 270-8865, or look up the FDA web page at www.FDA.gov.
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