Gel nail polish is a favorite at many nail salons due to its longevity and beautiful look. But starting September 1st, 2025, Europe has banned products containing photoinitiator TPO or trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide. That’s what’s in gel nail polish and the studies are not positive about this potentially toxic ingredient. Europe banned products containing TPO from being sold or used in gel nail polish due to concerns that it is toxic to reproduction. The EU considers the ban to be a precautionary measure based on animal studies showing potential fertility issues & reproductive health issues.
In the U.S., there are nail salons everywhere that not only market gel nails to customers but also highly encourage it. According to Columbia University, getting regular gel manicures could come with an increased cancer risk. That is due to the ultra violet heat lamps that are used to dry nails. Dermatologists at Columbia University suggest that regular nail polish can air dry and does not require a UV light. Radiation from UV-nail polish dryers may contribute to cancers of the hand, similar to tanning beds and may cause early onset skin cancer.
The European Union reclassified TPO as a carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction substance and moving forward it is banned under EU cosmetics law.
For more information visit:
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/gel-manicures