MMA - Methylmethacrylate



What is MMA?

Methyl Methacrylate is an ingredient that was commonly used in early "nail porcelains." In the early 1970's, the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.) received numerous complaints of personal injuries associated with the use of acrylic monomer formulated with MMA. The reports included serious nail damage or loss, contact dermatitis, organ damage from long term use, soreness and infection due to breaks caused by rigidly adhered acrylic.

By the end of the 1970's, the FDA had taken action against several manufacturers that marketed MMA liquid monomers. Since the FDA does not review or approve cosmetics before they go to market - only taking legal action if a product poses a safety problem - certain disreputable manufacturers continue to formulate products with MMA.

Please note that at this time there are No Canadian Regulations pertaining to the use of MMA liquid monomers.

Most mainstream acrylic manufacturers use a product called EMA or Ethyl Methacrylate which has been deemed much safer for use in the beauty industry. With the surge in salon growth and many salons looking to cut costs of supplies, MMA has shown it's ugly head again. (MMA is 1/6th the price of EMA.)

Recently articles have appeared in newspapers and industry gossip has said that if consumers want the salon to use MMA on their nails because it will last longer.... what is the big deal? Well the big deal is...we do not know how much internal organ damage, respiratory, eye damage & allergic responses etc.... MMA does and at what speed it happens....but it does happen...make no mistake about it.

Getting MMA out of the salons and off clients hands will take the combined effort of technicians, salons and consumers. Nail Technicians can join the Nail Technicians Alliance of Canada. They are attempting to set regulations for the nail industry in Canada. There are steps salons can take to discourage the use of products formulated with MMA by not purchasing products containing MMA monamer. While the nail industry waits for regulations on the MMA issue, many manufacturers are addressing the dangers.


What are the health risks associated with MMA products?

MMA-related complaints range from skin allergies to permanent loss of the nail plate. Here are the most common complaints that prompted the FDA (U.S.) to take action:

Nail Infections

The surface bond of the MMA acrylic is so strong to the soft tissue that even a slight trauma to the nail can cause the nail to separate and lift off the nail bed. This can result in serious nail breaks, infection and loss of the nail plate. Ironically, it is the strength of the acrylic that attracts some users of the product. While MMA used in the medical and dental industries provides superior adhesion to bone, it is not appropriate or safe for use on the softer nail tissue.

Respiratory problems and eye, nose and throat irritation.

MMA vapors are toxic even in small doses and can cause lung, liver and heart valve damage, especially with longterm exposure. This has been documented in laboratory animals as well as in lab technicians from dental labs where crowns and dentures are made. Wearing a mask does nothing to prevent inhalation of MMA fumes. Masks only reduce the inhalation of acrylic dust.

Permanent Nail Deformities

The small molecular structure of MMA makes it possible for it to be absorbed through even unbroken skin. It can also actually do permanent damage to the matrix of the nail and further absorb into the body. While MMA will not store in the tissue, it is stored as methanol in the blood and urine.

Severe Allergic Reactions

Repeated exposure to products containing MMA can result in severe allergic reactions. Redness, swelling and itching are common symptoms, which can lead to the development of tiny blisters around the cuticles and fingertips. These blisters can develop into open sores, and the fingertips may become numb or feel itchy under the nail.

MMA sticks better the EMA products? FALSE

When EMA Acrylic products are applied properly they should adhere as well if not better than MMA products. It is not true that MMA has better adhesion. It is just that MMA users, use excessive filing to prep the nail and this is what causes superior adhesion (and severe nail plate damage). MMA in fact does not adhere well to natural nails at all if it were to be applied in the same manner that we apply traditional acrylics.


If my acrylic products do not contain MMA, what ingredients do they contain? Are they harmful?

All of the traditional acrylic liquids that are available through mainstream sources contain EMA Ethyl Methacrylate, which is free of the hazards associated with MMA. While it is true that both EMA and MMA can also be found in the powder phase of acrylic products, this is a form of co-polymers. The co-polymers, Polymethyl Methacrylate and Polyethyl Methacrylate, are completely harmless in the powder because the molecules are already polymerized and too large to evaporate or penetrate the skin. EMA was developed for use in the nail industry for application of acrylic nails, and works much the same as MMA in process only.


What Is the difference between EMA and MMA?

In chemistry, one small alteration such as adding an extra Carbon or Hydrogen atom can mean the difference between making a potentially harmful poison or something that is not harmless when used by the professional. Although close cousins, EMA has a slight, but significantly different molecular structure than MMA. This gives EMA the desirable acrylic qualities without the undesirable side effects so often seen with MMA. Only three atoms distinguish the difference between EMA and MMA. However, this small chemical difference makes EMA much safer. An example is the difference between poisonous wood alcohol (methanol) and beverage alcohol (ethanol). Again the difference between the two molecules is only three atoms. Yet wood alcohol is deadly if consumed. Beverage alcohol is considered safe (if not used in excess!).


Why is it safe to use MMA in the dental and medical industries?

The dental industry makes dental composites sometimes using MMA as a monomer. However, teeth are a much harder substance and less penetrable than the softer, keratin protein of nails. Additionally, most dental prosthetics are made outside of the mouth. And, like fingernail acrylic, once polymerized and cured, dental composites are safe when placed in contact with human tissue. The exposure rate is also completely different. A client who wears acrylic nails may have a fill every two weeks. The same client may only have a few dental prosthetics throughout a lifetime.


How do I know if a salon is using products containing MMA?

MMA Acrylic nails are difficult or impossible to remove. Once hardened through polymerization, acrylic nails made with MMA monomer are solvent resistant. It can take two hours or more to dissolve when immersed in a solvent, whereas nail products made with EMA take only 20 to 30 minutes to dissolve. To speed up the removal process, the salon may choose to use an electric drill or extremely coarse file to remove the MMA acrylic. Since it may be difficult to see where the nail has grown, the chance of filing into the natural nail are great, often leaving behind a damaged, thin nail plate leading to permanent nail deformities. I personally recommend filing the product as thin as possible without causing heat or damage to the natural nail and leave the remaining layer on until it grows out. Once the product is cured there is no danger to the client and would create less damage to the nail in the long run.

MMA has an unusually powerful, sweet smelling noxious odor. Volatility is what gives acrylic products their characteristic odors. Smaller methacrylate molecules are more volatile, producing a much stronger odor. MMA is the smallest methacrylate molecule used, hence the powerful odors associated with these nail products. The safe Ethyl Methacrylate (EMA) used in many of today¹s mainstream acrylics also have small molecules and a strong smell, though not as small as the MMA variety.

Low priced full sets and fills. The cost of a gallon of MMA liquid monomer ranges from $9.00 to $22.00 (U.S.). The cost of EMA liquid monomer ranges from $219 to $239 (U.S.) per gallon. For discount salons, cost outweighs the safety factors. While MMA monomer may cost less to buy, the health risks are more costly in the long run. The sad thing is many times the salon technicians have no idea that the MMA liquid is dangerous or that it is, in fact, what they are using. The owner normally pours from the gallon into yorker bottles with no labels or they pour them in name brands containers like OPI or Creative Nail. That way the technicians and clients don't know what kind of product they are using.