[Question #10057] Exposure risk
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26 months ago
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I went to a nail salon and had a color that was hard to remove so the tech had me place my hand in a bottle that contains a sponge and is filled with a nail polish remover to help remove the polish from my
Cuticle. After a few seconds, it occurred to me that other people would have used this same container since it’s not typically
Something disposable.
I tried assessing my hands to see if I had any cuts. I see a very small superficial cut (so superficial that it didn’t even sting), is it possible that I could catch something from there like HIV or is the fact that it’s acetone pose little risk?
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26 months ago
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To confirm, the container I’m referring to is sold as a sponge that remains in an acetone solution.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
26 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. I'll be glad to comment. We receive many questions from persons who worry that they may have been infected trough exposures in a nail salon or (for men) barber shops. Admittedly this is the first time we have had a question of this sort but I am confident that this was a no risk situation. The acetone in the sponge you describe (and the fumes around it) would have been immediately toxic to all bacteria and viruses if any had been present. The same chemical reactions which dissolve nail polish would dissolve bacteria and viruses, killing them immediately. The presence of superficial cuts would not change this assessment in any way.
I hope this information is helpful to you. EWH
p.s. Just to add, it is statistically unlikely that, if the sponge had been used on someone prior to you, that they had HIV or any sort of blood borne infection. Far less than 1% of women in North America have HIV
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26 months ago
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Thank you for your reply. So, acetone would be enough to kill the viruses im most scared of. I just wanted to Make sure since the sponge is porous versus other non porous inanimate surfaces where the virus can’t thrive
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
26 months ago
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Absolutely. The viruses would not have a chance. They’d be killed immediately. EWH ---