Summary-line: 12-Mar wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu #Re: nail gunk *** EOOH *** Return-Path: Date: Tue, 12 Mar 91 21:48:50 -0500 From: Patricia P Wilcox To: andrea@sdd.hp.com Subject: Re: nail gunk Cc: immune@weber.ucsd.edu Andrea -- Ralph Nader's health group (actually Public Citizen Health Research Group, 2000 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036) published an article in November 1990 -- "Consumer Product Alert: The Dangers of Artificial Nail Products" -- that's fairly scary. It describes what I take to be more of the same old autoimmune stuff. "The various glues used to hold the artificial nails on or repair breaks are well- known allergens. The allergic reactions to the glues can cause dermatitis and even permanent nail loss..." Many people with autoimmune disease have ridged fingernails due to autoimmune attack on the nail bed, even when they don't paint the toxic solvents directly on their nails. Long before I knew about any of this, I used to take gelatin for my nails, and sometimes it seemed to help, but your mileage may vary. --Pat Wilcox (wilcox@cis.ohio-state.edu)