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I am 54 and one of my forefingers has 2 small lumps on the top joint. For now, they are not obvious at all and I happily wear bright nail polish colors. But if they get bigger or spread to other fingers, I am not sure I would be comfortable drawing attention to my hands.
As for nail polish toxicity, I stick with cruelty free brands that are also as chemical free as possible. Zoya, Acquarella, Honeybee Gardens and Pacifica don't contain the nasty stuff mentioned in the article I linked. Pacifica in particular lasts quite a while on me without chipping. Fabulous colors and not too spendy, especially if you can catch one of their sales events.
Good for you Cat.. and it shows that the people who make these things are noticing what people want..... I bought Stella McCartney nail varnish a year ago as I was going to a wedding and wanted to feel nice.. but I thought there wouldnt be a strong smell but it had and I coudlnt use it as I have a severe chemical illness.. so I know what I can wear and what not to .. so I gave it away. quite expensive too, but no use for me .
Last edited by dizzybint; 08-22-2016 at 12:05 PM..
I'm 40 and have RA. I don't wear nail polish but only because I am lazy not because I have arthritis. I don't wear jewelry because of my swollen fingers.
I say wear nail polish if it makes you happy and makes you feel good.
I've always worn polish because I have always been able to grow my nails fairly long but now I get acrylics because I have very deep ridges in my fingernails. It was too much trouble to keep them up myself with ridge filler, base coat, color, top coat, etc. I now go once every other week and never have to give a moment's thought to my nails. My hands have always been one of my "things" that people always complimented me on so I like them to look good.
I have noticed what I think is the beginning of arthritis in both my pinkie fingers however and if they ever get really bad and misshapen I will probably go the natural route and cut them very short.
I have always worn my nails long. Still do. In my younger days I wore nail polish all the time. Then, I just stopped. It was such a pain waiting for it to dry and I ALWAYS managed to smudge it. I think the last time I wore it was on my wedding day almost 13 years ago. (Wore white-to go with my dress. ). I may still have some bottles around or maybe I tossed them if they had dried up.
As for anyone else, if you want to wear polish, go for it.
Good for you Cat.. and it shows that the people who make these things are noticing what people want..... I bought Stella McCartney nail varnish a year ago as I was going to a wedding and wanted to feel nice.. but I thought there wouldnt be a strong smell but it had and I coudlnt use it as I have a severe chemical illness.. so I know what I can wear and what not to .. so I gave it away. quite expensive too, but no use for me .
I am sorry you are so sensitive to chemicals, that must be really difficult. Suncoat polish might work for you, I haven't tried it but it's water-based and supposedly no chemical smell at all. Might be worth a try for your next dress-up occasion.
Mani-pedis feel GREAT! I'm only 48 and I love having someone rub and pamper my achy hands and feet!
I don't wear nail polish much because I'm a librarian and that is a lot of wear and tear the hands...books and keyboards, and carts of books, and boxes of books. but when i retire??? more manicures! I don't care a bit if they would attract attention to my lumpy knuckles. The knuckles are nothing to be ashamed of.
Sheesh, think about all the people who are going to be sporting tattoos on their wrinkled old skin???? At least we can change the color of the nail polish.
I am 56, I have osteoarthritis allover since my mid forties and sometimes, few times still wear nail polish in soft pink/peach colors on the hands, I do have some reds and 1 purple which came in a makeup box/memebox their choice, the reds I wear in december month. I switched to Korean nail polish which I find is less smelly of chemicals.
I'm in my 50s and don't have arthritic hands, however, I quit wearing nail polish years ago. The older I've gotten the more I prefer the "natural" look. I keep my nails cut fairly short and have them buffed to a shine once a month.
My mother-in-law is in her late 80s, has a weekly manicure for her long nails, and keeps her nails beautifully polished a bright red year round!
Do what makes you feel good!
Last edited by texan2yankee; 08-23-2016 at 11:14 AM..
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I think the last time I wore it was on my wedding day almost 13 years ago. (Wore white-to go with my dress. 
). I may still have some bottles around or maybe I tossed them if they had dried up. 
