Methyl Methacrylate Ingredient Allergy Safety Information

What is it?

Methyl methacrylate is a plastic monomer found in cosmetics and in medical, dental, and industrial settings.

What is a monomer? A monomer is a starting material or single unit from which a polymer is built. It refers to the repeat units that make up the polymer chains. Example: Ethylene is the monomer for polyethylene, and styrene for polystyrene

How can I avoid it?

Avoidance of the monomer (unreacted chemical) is necessary to prevent recurrent allergic contact dermatitis. The full polymerized (reacted) monomer is no longer a sensitizer. There is often residual free monomer available, particularly with self-curing rather than heat-cured or ultraviolet light-cured preparations. Cross-sensitization occurs among acrylic monomers, which makes switching from one monomer to another often unsuccessful in avoiding allergic contact dermatitis.

It is optimal to completely avoid exposure to the ingredients to which you are allergic. If you must be exposed to this acrylate (for example, because of your job), you may try to wear nitrile gloves and change them every 10 minutes. Acrylates pass through nitrile gloves if they are worn for longer periods of time. Other gloves such as rubber latex gloves are less desirable since acrylates pass through them quickly.

Uses:

Concrete impregnation
Contact lens
Cosmetics (artificial sculptured nails, nail extenders)
Dental (dentures, fillings, coatings, crowns, sealants, veneers)
Industrial (3D printers, adhesives, sealants, printing plates, inks, paints, coating glass, rubber, leather, and textiles)
Leather goods (belts, handbags, shoes, watch bands)
Medical (adhesive tape, hearing aids, surgical protheses, bone cement, enteric coating for tablet medications)

Other names for methyl methacrylate: