The Effect of Nail Polish and Henna on the Measures of Pulse Oximeters in Healthy Persons.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of nail polish and henna on pulse oximetry measurements in healthy individuals.

Methods: The study was designed as quasi-experimental and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 682 women studying in a university's nursing department in the Mediterranean region during the academic year of 2016 to 2017. The sample consisted of 103 female students who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a personal information form prepared in light of the literature. A single layer of nail polish of the same brand was applied; white on the thumb, red on the ring finger, and black on the little finger of the left hand, while henna was applied on the index finger of the left hand of the students. The middle finger was considered as the control group. A portable Nellcor (N-65) pulse oximeter was used for oxygen saturation measurements. The data were analyzed using means, SD, and paired-samples t test.

Findings: There was no statistically significant difference between oxygen saturation measurements of fingers with henna and red nail polish and the control finger (P > .05). However, oxygen saturation levels of fingers with black and white nail polish were lower than the control group's levels, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05).

Conclusions: The results demonstrated that white and black nail polish had an impact on oxygen saturation measurements, whereas henna and red nail polish had no effect on the measurements. Based on these findings, nurses may be advised to remove patients' nail polish before measuring oxygen saturation using the finger. In addition, conducting new studies investigating the effects of nail polish, henna, and false nails, which are increasingly used today, on SpO2 values, is suggested.