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by angi nagel on February 26th, 2006

angi nagel

Question

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My nails really hurt about the day after I remove nail polish with remover. My nails don't hurt when I just chip the polish off. Is something in the remover causing the pain?

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Answers. 13 helpful answers below.

  • by jumpingatoms on November 13th, 2007

    jumpingatoms

    This totally happens to me but only when I do it from home -- if I get the polish removed (then replaced with new polish) at the nail salon, i don't have this problem. But I took nail polish off with remover this morning and all my fingers are hurting me under the nail and it's happened before.... i am only first looking for answers now that i have made that connection

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  • by Kristen W on March 7th, 2006

    Kristen W

    Check the nail polish remover that you are using. It is possible that it is meant for artifical nails; if so, it is too harsh for your natural nail and is probably irritating it. If it's the correct remover, you may simply be rubbing your nails too hard when removing the polish.

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  • by Yellow on July 21st, 2008

    Yellow

    The same thing happened to me today. I always put a new coat of polish on after I remove the old polish... but last night I didn't get a chance to. This morning and all throughout the day, I've had this horrible pain. I guess it is right beneath the nail...the tips of my nail beds. This doesn't happen when I reapply a new coat immediately.

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  • by Murphy on January 2nd, 2009

    Murphy

    Mine do the same. The only thing I've found that helps is to immediately put a coat of clear on. I've tried all different types of "gentle" remover and they don't make a difference. I've decided it has to do with the difference in the weight on the nail bed but I really don't know and most people don't seem to have a problem with this. Once I put the clear on, I just let it gradually fade away and I'm fine.

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  • by BunnyBeth on July 8th, 2009

    BunnyBeth

    It has nothing to do with the polish remover. When you have nail polish on, your nails are deprived of oxygen. The polish is a barrier, and while I think a certain amount of oxygen permeates it, it is significantly reduced as compared to bare nails. When you wear polish constantly (I usually do, and if I take it off, my nails hurt like h*ll until they adjust to being 'naked'), your nail bed can't breathe, and it adjusts to the oxygen deprivation. When you remove your polish and leave it off for any measurable amount of time, your nails are exposed again. Voila! Discomfort until your nails adjust to the exposure, or you put a new coat of polish on to stop the pain.

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  • by jackie48 on April 17th, 2012

    jackie48

    I have the same problem. It's because the nail polish, usually a few coats thick, is like a hard protective shield over your nails. When removed, your nails are softer and more sensitive than they are with the nail polish on and softer than they usually would be naturally since the nail polish was providing a moisture barrier (so as the nails dry out, the pain subsides because they are re-hardening). This also explains why it feels better after applying a coat of new polish, to contain that moisture, stop the nails from drying (thereby shrinking a little as the moisture dissipates). The oxygen hypothesis also sounds plausible, although your finger tips have a constant supply of oxygen through your blood stream and the actual nail is already dead, per se, so oxygen touching your nail shouldn't make much difference and oxygen reaching the skin under your nail is nothing new.
    Just a little advice: always give your nails a break, a few days to breath in between weeks of polish. to promote healthy growth, even if it hurts. Try using nail moisturizers and cuticle balms at this time to condition them for the next round of polish.

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  • by robin_13 on October 19th, 2011

    robin_13

    I ran across this page when I was having the same problem. And some of the nail beds hurt while others didn't. When I looked closely at them, I saw tiny lines of blood under the nails, Subungual Hematomas. I only found the blood under the nails that hurt. I still don't know why nail polish or nail polish removal caused Subungual Hematomas, but there you go. No wonder they hurt!

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  • by Elizabeth_R6249 on September 20th, 2010

    Elizabeth_R6249

    man i have the same problem its hurts so bad!! i tried to endure it for a day or so but it hurts to much but as soon and i put clear on the pain went away in minuets. i wish there was a way i could have naked nails without the pain

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  • by rubyc_07 on September 18th, 2010

    rubyc_07

    Wow ladies, i so have this problem and just decided to google it and ran across this conversation. Now I don't feel alone. I just removed my nail polish from my fingers and toes about 4 hours ago and now all ten of my finger nails hurt but none of my toenails do. I beleive the oxygen thing but i personally think it may also have something to do with the remover and nail thickness sense my toes don't hurt.

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  • by Terri Z on October 3rd, 2010

    Terri Z

    I am not sure of the O2 deprivation, because I don't have this issue when I remove clear polish. Maybe it's is a lack of light to the nail bed? I am not sure But what I am sure of is the next manicure I am going with a clear coat. :)

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  • by suza123 on December 22nd, 2010

    suza123

    a few ibuprophen dulls the pain enough to allow you to go without nail polish for a few days. :) It does hurt like hell and I wonder why there isn't more info about it on the web!

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  • by Vanessa_M110 on January 14th, 2011

    Vanessa_M110

    I have the same problem, i took my nail poilish off 6 hrs ago, now all of my finger nails are killing me!!!!!! I need answers ppl! It might be the polish remover, maybe better if it contains no traces of acetone at all.
    Or maybe we all just have sensitive nail beds?

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by rubyc_07 on September 18th, 2010

    rubyc_07

    Wow ladies, i so have this problem and just decided to google it and ran across this conversation. Now I don't feel alone. I just removed my nail polish from my fingers and toes about 4 hours ago and now all ten of my finger nails hurt but none of my toenails do. I beleive the oxygen thing but i personally think it may also have something to do with the remover and nail thickness sense my toes don't hurt.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

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