September starts, and with him the return of many routines. In beauty salons, UV lamps come back on to shine and hardness to the nails after summer. But something has changed: some of the most popular enamels can no longer be used. A European prohibition has just entered into force and promises to transform the manicure industry.
New course, new rules. The new course arrives with a background change in European beauty salons: since September 1, 2025, enamels with TPO or DMPT/DMTA, two essential chemicals in the low lamp -fixing process, can no longer be sold or applied. Regulation (EU) 2025/877, approved last MayIt is blunt.
For the European Commission, There is no margin of doubts: Both compounds are in the category of CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction). AND There is also no time margin: The prohibition is immediate, without the possibility of selling warehouse remains or continuing to use them in rooms.
The sanitary motifs that push the veto. The decision is based on scientific studies that point to serious health risks. According to eldiario.esthe DMPT showed carcinogenic effects on livers, lungs and stomachs of rats and mice. For its part, the TPO, a photoiniciator that accelerates drying with UV light, has been linked to fertility damage and reproduction problems, As The Independent explained.
Experts Consulted by the country They warn that hall professionals are the most exposed, manipulating these substances and inhaling them daily. “The greatest risk is when it is applied, because at that time you can inhale and get in contact with the skin,” Miguel Motas, toxicologist at the University of Murcia, told the medium.
The European Commission confirmed that the TPO has been classified as toxic to the 1B category reproduction and, since no exception request was submitted, its inclusion in the list of prohibited substances was automatic.
A market that is recomposed. For brands, the consequence is clear: reformulate products. According to a woman todaythere are already alternative formulas without Tpo or DMPT that resort to less aggressive photoiniciators. The prohibition, in fact, could accelerate innovation and open the door to safer and sustainable products.
While Europe hardens the rules, in the United States the TPO continues for sale. The Independent He has pointed out that the regulatory difference could force multinationals to unify formulas on a global scale so as not to maintain two different versions.
A blow to the halls. Critical voices arise from the sector itself. The TPO-EU platform, that groups distributors and professionalsdenounces that the measure has been applied “suddenly” and without transition margin. According to its spokesmen, this lack of adaptation period will force to withdraw entire stocks and will cause significant losses for thousands of small manicure rooms.
While Brussels argues that health protection must be above any other interest, TPO-EU claims a more balanced approach, with implementation deadlines that allow the sector to adapt without sinking economically. In contrast, they remember that in countries like the United States, products with TPO are still marketed, which shows that the European prohibition has been too drastic.
Although there is more. Beyond the European veto, gel manicures have long dragged medical criticism. According to the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicineallergic dermatitis consultations, bleeding, pain or UV rays are increasingly frequent.
Prolonged use also damages natural nails: fragility, dryness, spots and onicolysis (nail detachment) are consequences described in a report by The Conversation. Even asthma cases and allergic reactions have been documented, probably due to the dispersion of allergens throughout the day.
The problem is not limited to chemicals. Nail dryers that emit ultraviolet light are also under suspicion. As The New York Times has detaileddifferent studies show that this radiation can deteriorate the DNA of the skin and generate mutations similar to those of a melanoma.
The principle of a broader change? The case of semi -permanent enamels is not isolated. As noted by professor Nicolás Olea in the countrythe European Agency for Substances and Chemical Mixtures will not stop at the TPO: the debate on other compounds (eg, triclosan or certain nanomaterials) is still underway. The current prohibition marks a turning point: it requires the industry to raise the security bar and consumers decide informed. Between the promise of impeccable nail and health prudence, Europe has moved file and changed its balance.
Image | Unspash
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