The polish is made up of iron oxide or iron-based particles. (Source: Instagram/Langley Nails).Magnetic cat eyes nail polish has become a beauty trend, thanks to its shimmering, three-dimensional effect. It’s created by using a magnet that aligns iron particles within the polish. As visually stunning as it is, a new concern has been raised on social media. Can wearing cat eye polish pose a danger during an MRI scan. MRI machines are known for having extremely powerful magnetic fields that can pull metallic items across a room. Many people have started to wonder if the trace amounts of iron found in this viral nail polish trend could be dangerous in a medical setting. Some posts suggest that the field could be strong enough to cause a reaction in a scan. This article is based upon information that we obtained from public sources and/or experts. Dr Shreyas Cadabam is the director and interventional radiologist at Cadabams Diagnostics. He told indianexpress.com that “Cat eye nail varnish does contain iron oxide or magnetic particles based on iron that respond to a strong magnet to produce the ‘cat-eye’ effect. These particles are usually present in small quantities and are embedded into the polish matrix which hardens once applied. This is not a safety issue in most cases. The metal particles are not ‘pulled’ in the MRI scanner as loose metal objects would be. Metallic eye makeup, for example, can interfere with brain and orbital MRIs, creating artefacts which look like abnormalities. This makes diagnosis difficult. “More commonly, the problem is a compromised image quality than physical danger,” says Dr Cadabam. If someone has recently worn nail polish with cat eye, should they tell the radiologist before undergoing an MRI scan? Dr Cadabam says it’s always a good thing to inform the radiology staff about any metallic or magnetized substances on or inside the body. This includes cosmetics, tattoos and nail polish. “While cat-eye nail polish is unlikely pose a significant risk, especially if the scan does not involve the wrist or hand, disclosure helps the technologists make an informed decision,” says Cadabam. In most cases, the nail polish does not need to be removed. However, the expert mentions that if the scan targets areas near the hands, or if there are visible metallic particles, “the technician may ask for it to be removed to ensure optimal imaging and avoid any unexpected interference.”DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Consult your doctor before beginning any new routine.
