{"id":28031,"date":"2025-09-09T03:22:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T08:22:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/09\/09\/a-dermatologist-reveals-the-1-manicure-shed-never-get-nbc-chicago\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T03:22:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T08:22:59","slug":"a-dermatologist-reveals-the-1-manicure-shed-never-get-nbc-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/09\/09\/a-dermatologist-reveals-the-1-manicure-shed-never-get-nbc-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"A dermatologist reveals the 1 manicure she\u2019d never get \u2013 NBC Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Never Have I Ever Series<\/h2>\n

TODAY.com\u2019s Never Have I Ever series offers guidance about procedures and practices our trusted health experts would never participate in. Discover why they should be avoided and which healthy practices you should turn to instead.<\/p>\n

The Risks of Russian Manicure<\/h2>\n

Dr. Mona Gohara, a dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, is quick to share that she loves a manicure and never faults her patients for getting them, but one kind in particular brings more risk than they may have bargained for: the Russian manicure. Also known as a dry manicure or an e-file manicure, the acetone- and water-free treatment involves meticulously grooming the nails and skin around them with electric drills, sharp cuticle cutters and scissors. The result is an immaculate-looking nail bed primed for polish that won\u2019t chip for weeks \u2014\u00a0and an increased risk of infection and permanent damage, explains Gohara.<\/p>\n

Never Have I Ever: Gotten a Russian Manicure<\/h2>\n

Cutting the cuticle, a standard in a Russian manicure, is what keeps Gohara from getting one. The cuticle is the delicate layer of transparent skin from which the nail grows and protects new nails from bacteria. Think of it like the front door to your home, suggests Gohara. \u201cYou may have more space in the room if you remove that, but you\u2019re also subjecting yourself to more danger, which is exactly what you do when you manipulate or get rid of the cuticle because the cuticle is one of the main ways your nails are protected,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Why Russian Manicures are Risky<\/h2>\n

Without a cuticle, your nails risk exposure to yeast, fungus and bacteria, which can cause paronychia, a nail infection. With paronychia comes pain, swelling and possible lasting damage to the shape, texture, color and durability of your nail, says Gohara. And it doesn\u2019t take much to expose the sensitive and broken cuticles caused by a Russian manicure to trauma and infection. In addition to the germs you might encounter on public transit or washing dishes, there\u2019s already a heap of germs living on your hands. \u201cAll of us are exposed to bacteria constantly,\u201d Gohara says. \u201cOne of the biggest places that we harbor bacteria is actually under the nails,\u201d just a few centimeters from the vulnerable cuticle area, making infection likelier.<\/p>\n

Alternatives to Russian Manicure<\/h2>\n

You don\u2019t need to cut the nail salon out of your life entirely, says Gohara, who gets her nails done every three weeks. But here are her tips to ensure the safety of your nails and your health:<\/p>\n