08 May 2023 , 22:15
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A mother says she can barely use her hands after developing a suspected allergy to nail products.
A set of Lisa Dewey's gel nails became inflamed recently and started peeling away from the nail bed but Lisa, who had been getting her nails done regularly for years without issue, thought it was a bacterial infection.
The 36-year-old woman was given a steroid cream and antibiotics but her nails became "very aggravated" again after she decided to get a set of acrylic nails put on.
Now it is suspected Lisa, from Pattishall, Northamptonshire, has an allergy to nail cosmetics, something it is estimated fewer than one in 30 people has.
Lisa's nails before a recent episode are pictured (Lisa Dewey / SWNS)
After she suffered an episode, Lisa's nails started peeling off and became sore (Lisa Dewey / SWNS)Sometimes, she can barely move her hands due to the pain and so the NHS cleaner struggles to wash her daughter's hair, do up a seatbelt, hold a pen and wash up.
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The mother of two said: "It has knocked my confidence so much too - it's so embarrassing and I'm always hiding my hands away.
"My skin is like paper tearing away from my fingers and I can barely move my hands from the pain."
Lisa had nail treatments for years with no issues. However, she will avoid products now as, during one recent episode, one nail went purple and extremely sore.
"It happened suddenly - I feared I might even lose a finger when it went purple around the nail," the cleaner added.
"I feared it might be starved of oxygen - but it ended up being something completely different."
The mum had been getting manicures her 'whole life' without issue (Lisa Dewey / SWNS)The suspected allergy means Lisa now has to constantly ask for help from 45-year-old husband Lee.
She said: "Washing my daughter's hair is hard because you have to bend your fingers.
"Even strapping her in the car - if I catch my finger on the belt, I jolt from the pain because the skin is raw.
"It gets so aggravated but wearing gloves doesn't even help because sweaty hands aggravate it too.
"Anything scented or fragranced makes it worse - I can't put a conditioning treatment or mousse in my hair."
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Now Lisa has vowed to stay away from nail products for good - and warned others.
The 36-year-old woman thought the symptoms were an infection at first (Lisa Dewey / SWNS)She added: "People can get their nails done for years with no issues until one day it hits them.
"I am going on holiday in August and I was booked to get my hands and toes done. Now I'm not getting them done.
"This has knocked my confidence so much - I don't normally care what people think of me, but now I hide my hands away.
"It's just embarrassing to have hands like this - there's a coronation party this week, and if my hands aren't better, I won't be going.
"I just want to do my bit in trying to get the word out that things might not be as good as they seem."