Green Discoloration Under a Lifted Acrylic
A regular client comes in for an acrylic fill. On the right index finger, the natural nail under a lifted acrylic shows a dark green-black patch, and the surrounding skin is slightly swollen. She says it started after she glued down a lifted corner two weeks ago and has been covered with polish since. She is diabetic and mentions her doctor "warned her about her feet," though she has no open sore on the hand. She wants you to "just fill over it" because she has a photo shoot tomorrow. She has been a good client for three years and tips well.
1. What is the likely condition, and can you fill over it?
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The green-black discoloration under a lifted enhancement, especially after gluing a lifted corner and covering it with polish, may be consistent with bacterial colonization such as Pseudomonas, but appearance alone cannot establish a diagnosis. Moisture and debris trapped under the lifted product create the environment for it. You cannot fill over it; covering an active infection traps bacteria and can worsen it, and the discoloration can also mask other damage. Stop the cosmetic service and refer for medical evaluation; avoid traumatic removal or attempting to treat an unconfirmed infection. Her diabetes increases infection risk, which makes referral more important, not less.
2. What do you do with implements and the service itself?
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Stop the service on that nail. Discard disposable files and buffers that touched the area, and disinfect reusable implements with an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant for the label contact time. Wash your hands, wear fresh gloves, and keep the affected nail isolated from clean tools. Do not perform cuticle nipping or aggressive pushing around the swollen skin. You may discuss servicing unaffected nails only with strict separation of tools and supplies, but the safest professional choice is to stop and refer until the infection has cleared. Document the referral.
3. How do you explain the decision to a long-term client without losing her?
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Acknowledge her loyalty and be direct: this is a health issue, not a cosmetic one. Explain that the discoloration and swelling need medical evaluation and should not be covered with more product and that covering it could spread the infection or damage the nail further, especially with diabetes. Tell her you will not charge for the affected nail, document what you saw, and recommend a doctor. Offer to rebook her after medical clearance and to help with the photo shoot by servicing only clearly unaffected nails if that can be done safely. Clear, consistent reasoning protects both the client and your license.