Lashmaker VS Glue Allergy for Eyelash Extensions: What to Do?

Two out of three lashmakers discover they are allergic to glue after 2-3 years of work. Why does this happen? What causes the allergy? What are the symptoms and how to treat it will be discovered together in this article.

 

Few courses provide the necessary information about cumulative allergies that can appear after the first years of work, and when you have already discovered you are allergic, it may be too late to fix it and the only solution would be to change jobs.

Every day a lashmaker works with products that can cause allergies, but only one is the most allergenic - eyelash extension glue, whose main component is cyanoacrylate. This substance emits vapors invisible to the eye, which have a strong and toxic odor.

Glue allergy is rarely felt immediately; usually, a long time passes before any discomfort is noticed. Many lashmakers do not perceive the smell of the glue at first and do not take protective measures. However, after a while, toxins will begin to accumulate in the body and the senses will become sensitive to chemical fumes, so it is important to always take precautions, even if there are no signs of allergy yet.

 

What are the symptoms of a glue allergy?

During work, a lashmaker may have the following reactions:

• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• Runny nose;
• Dry cough;
• Itching and burning in the throat;
• Nasal congestion;
• Tearing;

This is how the body reacts to prolonged inhalation of the toxin (cyanoacrylate evaporation) without protection.

However, evaporation enters the body not only through the olfactory organ. Toxins are absorbed through the pores of the skin, so more severe reactions are possible:

• Swelling (eyes, nose, ears, throat);
• Rashes on the face;
• Irritation on the skin of the hands;
• Itching of the skin;
• Change in facial skin color (it takes on a grayer tone).

 

Taking antihistamines will help to temporarily relieve allergy symptoms. However, allergies require treatment that can only be prescribed by a doctor.

The first step in allergy treatment is to exclude contact with the allergen, that is, the glue. If the reaction manifests as severe edema, it is worth considering changing the activity, as ignoring the symptoms can lead to serious health problems (the edema can move to the lungs and other internal organs).

 

To not overlook an allergy and seek remedies when it is already too late, the lashmaker must take precautions:

 

Disposable medical masks do not protect against toxic glue vapors. They are used to protect the client from the lashmaker's breathing and vice versa (to prevent colds).

Protective masks are:

• Carbon respirators (masks with carbon filter);
• 3M masks respirators to protect against chemical fumes.

3M respirators and masks can be uncomfortable and you need to get used to working with them. The respirator filters must be replaced within the time specified in the instructions.

 

It is recommended to ventilate the room during breaks between clients. This will prevent toxins from lingering in the air. For this reason, you should not work in a room without windows.

 

It is harder for toxins to remain in a humid environment. Therefore, constant air humidification will help cope with allergies. For this purpose, use professional air humidifiers.

 

Following the glue work rules can help you avoid allergy:

• Do not put a drop of glue near the face. It is recommended to refuse to use disposable glue rings;
• Before pouring a new drop of glue, the old one must be extinguished (not with just any product, but with a product that performs this exact function - drop absorber). This will prevent the old drop from evaporating;
• Do not clean the glue with a cotton swab. When it interacts with absorbent cotton, the cyanoacrylate starts to heat up and smoke, emitting poisonous fumes.

 

You didn't know it existed, right? Yet it exists and works great! 

The revolutionary fan absorbs the harmful substances from the glue before the lashmaker or the client inhales them, and it also permanently eliminates the risk of red eyes for the client. In short, it has many benefits that we will talk about in another article.

If you want to know more about the fan, contact us!

 

Glue allergy for a lashmaker is a common phenomenon and makes the work unbearable.

The golden rule: prevention is better than cure!