How to Remove Gel Nail Polish from Skin around Nails (Just 5 Easy Step)

INTRO

Gel nail polish does great things for your nails, but it can be quite the pain to remove if you’re not careful. The good news is that it’s possible to remove gel nail polish from skin around nails without damaging the surrounding area in the process! 

Remove Gel Nail Polish from Skin around Nails

Here are some tips to help you safely remove gel nail polish from skin around nails so you won’t have to suffer from peeling fingertips ever again.

how to remove gel nail polish from skin around nail after curing

01: Remove Cuticle

Make sure your nails are totally dry and clean, then go over them with a cuticle trimmer or clippers. Your nails will look neater and you’ll get rid of all that dead skin that’s causing you problems. 

Once all of your cuticles are gone, grab a nail file and smooth down any rough edges where your natural nail meets your cuticle.

 This will prevent further peeling or cracking later on. If you notice hangnails at the end of your fingers, gently pull them off using a nail clipper or pair of tweezers.

 Rinse your hands under water and pat them dry (you don’t want oils to make contact with freshly applied polish).

 It's also smart to wash away as much dust as possible; lay out a towel near your sink before beginning so no contaminants find their way into your manicure!

The next step is applying base coat: A good base coat protects against staining caused by porous surfaces such as skin and should be used every time you paint your nails if they're not naturally healthy enough for just top coat alone. 

When it comes time for removal, it'll also help lift off more polish when it comes time for that process.

how to remove gel polish without acetone

02: Remove Polish From Fingers

It’s pretty easy to get gel polish on your skin when you’re getting ready for a night out. The solution? You guessed it—use nail polish remover. 

But, don’t just dump a bunch of it on your fingers and go about your business. Dab a bit onto a cotton ball or pad, and then rub it into the skin with small circular motions until all of the color disappears.

 Use some more remover on another cotton ball if you have spots that aren’t coming off after one application. 

When you’re done, wash your hands well with soap and water; if there are still traces of color on your nails, just wipe them down with some acetone (or rubbing alcohol) and be careful not to touch anything while they dry.

Remove Gel Nail Polish from Skin around Nails

 These steps should get rid of any residual polish in short order. Once everything is nice and clean, moisturize! This will help keep nails in good shape while they grow out so you can rock a fresh mani soon enough!

how to remove nail polish from skin around nail

03: Remove Polish From Stomach Area

The best way to remove gel nail polish from your stomach area is with acetone. Acetone has a reputation for being very harsh on skin and nails. 

But that’s only if you use it improperly. Using acetone properly will not harm your nails, but it will help dissolve that manicure in no time at all. 

cured gel polish on skin

Get a cotton ball, dip it into some acetone, and rub it onto your stomach as hard as you can. This should cause that gel nail polish to start peeling right off of your skin and make sure that you don’t leave any behind!

 Be careful though; using too much acetone could dry out your skin, so try washing it with soap afterward. After that, follow up by putting moisturizer on your hands and rubbing them together so they get even softer than before.

 Follow these steps and remove gel nail polish like a pro! You won’t be able to stop touching those smooth hands once you have used this method! You'll never have problems removing gels again.

how to take nail polish off skin without nail polish remover

04: Remove Top Layer of Skin with Acetone

There are plenty of home remedies for removing gel nail polish, but acetone is by far one of your best options. It’s strong and efficient, but doesn’t work well on sensitive skin.

 Soaking cotton pads in acetone and placing them over your nails can help you get that top layer of skin off without doing too much damage. 

Start with a few minutes under each nail, then repeat as necessary until you’ve removed all traces of polish and skin. The downside? Your nails will look quite sad for a day or two as they start to grow out after having been soaked in acetone. 

how to remove gel nail polish with acetone

Luckily, though, it only takes a quick trim of those nails to make everything look normal again. After letting your fingertips breathe for about 24 hours (and picking at any flaking bits of skin), apply some moisturizer so your hands don’t dry out from being soaked in acetone. 

You may find that using an exfoliating brush helps you get up any stubborn spots where polish might still be hiding—plus it gives your hands some added circulation while leaving behind healthy new layers of skin cells. (If you have time before putting nail polish back on, try a DIY sugar scrub.)

how to get nail polish off skin without ruining nails

05: Use Rubbing Alcohol

Using rubbing alcohol is a great way to remove gel nail polish from skin. Pour a generous amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and dab it on your skin. 

The rubbing alcohol should be cold, which will help shrink your pores (yes, they can grow!). The nail polish should come off fairly easily using rubbing alcohol, but if you find that it's not budging, you can add some more alcohol on top until it does.

 And if that doesn't work? Consider visiting a manicurist at an acrylics/gel salon who will likely have an acetone-based remover tool that won't damage your nails like regular polish remover or other DIY methods might do! 

However, keep in mind that there may be an extra charge for those tools. If you decide to go ahead with doing it yourself or have a professional fix things for you, don't worry—it's not permanent . . . 

It takes 30 days for new skin cells to replace themselves under your nails so simply allow enough time before trying something else again. If one method doesn't work then try another instead! Good luck! :)