The Real Reason You Should Stop Using Acetone On Your Nails

The most concerning thing acetone does to nails is break them. It "significantly dries out the nail, leading to brittleness, splitting, peeling and breakage," said Stern. And it actually causes more damage to your cuticles. "Acetone has a huge effect on the cuticle skin, which is a protector of your nail," nail technician Thea Phan told Mamamia. "Cuticle skin will dry out when exposed to acetone." This can lead to cracking, peeling, bleeding, and for some, infection.

So, instead of using nail polish remover that contains acetone, try looking for products that are acetone-free. However, finding these products isn't as easy as it sounds. "There are many removers on the market that boast being fully 'natural' and biodegradable, but even polish removers that say 'natural' and 'organic' still contain solvents (just not acetone)," Eisman revealed. 

Ultimately, no matter what product you choose, it may cause some damage. To combat the effects, be sure to moisturize your hands and nails as soon as the polish has lifted.