Gel & acrylic nails
HEMA (gel nails)
Restricted in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why it matters
HEMA is a skin sensitiser. Contact with skin around the nail can cause allergic dermatitis.
What to look for on the label
Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, HEMA, di-HEMA trimethylhexyl dicarbamate.
Full name: HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, nails)
Country by country
Around the worldRestricted in European Union and United Kingdom; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why: HEMA is a skin sensitiser. Contact with skin around the nail can cause allergic dermatitis.
| Place | Status |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | no specific ruleNot named in NAFDAC labelling, bleaching-agent or registration rules. |
| European Union | restrictedAnnex III 313: nail products, professional use only; 'Can cause an allergic reaction' warning. |
| United Kingdom | restrictedRetained Annex III 313: nail products, professional use only, allergy warning. |
| United States | no specific ruleNot on FDA's prohibited/restricted cosmetic ingredients list. |
| Canada | no specific ruleNot on Hotlist (ethyl methacrylate is restricted; HEMA absent). |
Sources: NAFDAC cosmetics registration guidelines · Reg 2020/1682 (legislation.gov.uk) · FDA Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients · Health Canada Hotlist via CosIng Checker (secondary). Checked 2026-10-19; rules change, so check the regulator before relying on it.
Is it in your product?
Paste the ingredient list, scan the barcode or read it from a photo. The check flags hema (gel nails) and anything else worth knowing.
Read next
Education, not legal advice. Rules change: check with your country's regulator before relying on this.