Water-Based Nail Polish Aims to Help Chemo Patients' Nails
Kawanishi, Japan – November 06, 2026 -- A water-based nail polish with nail-repairing keratin, paired with a remover made from 100% natural ingredients, was displayed at a Cancer Survivor Fashion Show at Kansai Rosai Hospital in Japan. Japanese GreenTech startup Green Science Alliance developed both products for people whose nails change during chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy drugs can darken, thin and weaken nails
Chemotherapy can change the nails. The source attributes this to inhibited basal cell division and proliferation in the skin, activated melanin-producing cells, and impaired nail growth. Drugs that may cause nail disorders include fluorouracil (5-FU), TS-1, capecitabine (Xeloda), docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol), cytarabine (Cylocide) and some molecular targeted drugs. Reported effects are darkening, ingrown nails, thinning and brittleness.