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· I The Candidates' Health a nd Th e ir Health Care Plans h' !", ff\\ .:,...:. Healthy Nail Polish N ADDITION to its aes- thetic benefits, nail polish is thought to strengthen and protect nails. Yet two ingredients (toluene and formaldehyde) in a com- mon resin-toluene sulfon- amide formaldehyde resin--..,. used to improve the gloss and wear of nail polish are now recognized as toxins. So some new enamels omit this resin. Toluene, a solvent that thins the polish for smoother application, is environmen- tally unsound and poten- tially dangerous to unborn babies. But if you apply pol- ish just once a week, tolu- ene should not cause major problems, says Michele Elie, senior director of product development at Revlon . "The person who is most at risk from toluene vapor is the manicurist." Formaldehyde, a preser- vative that bonds the enamel to the nail, can cause allergic re- actions, which in- clude rashes, redness and bleeding beneath the nails. "Women who bite their nails," adds Dr. Alan Kling, a professor of derma- tology at Beth Israel Medical Center in NewYorkCicy, "may develop bleeding or skin cracking around the lips." In response to these concerns, some cosmet- ics companies have re- formulated their nail products to omit the resin. Here are some of the enamels currently 1992 available without it : Revlon Nail Enamel, Revlon Strong- wear, Matrix Nail Colors and Estee Lauder Perfect Finish Nail Lacquer. -Stephanie Unter $1. 9 5
