Have you ever stepped into a nail salon, and admired the gleaming, perfect polished nails? If so, you’ve seen the power of a gel manicure.
But, have you ever considered how those nails got their glossy finish? The UV drying lamp!, a device that transmits ultraviolet light to fix the gel polish?. This is an important part of the gel manicure process.
The lamp’s ability to create long-lasting, chip-resistant manicures has innovated the nail industry. Yet, experts are raising worries about the possible health risks. These risks are associated with prolonged exposure to UV light.
Today’s story is about Maria Zhivagui. She is a postdoctoral researcher at UC San Diego. She says her decision to stop using gel manicures followed her research study on the impact of UV drying lamps.
Maria Zhivagui had always enjoyed gel manicures. However, this was not to last. She became the author of the study that investigated the effect of UV lamps. After seeing the results, Zhivagui sworn to try no more.
UV drying lamps are pieces of equipment that they use in nail salons for gel manicures. But the study demonstrates that the equipment can alter cells in ways that can lead to cancer.
So Is UV light harmful for gel nails?
“Once I saw the effect of radiation emitted by the gel polish drying device on cell death! and that it actually mutates cells, even after one 20-minute session. I found this to be very alarming. I decided to stop using it,” she says.
The study looked into the impact of UV exposure on three different types of skin cells. (Adult human skin keratinocytes, human foreskin fibroblasts, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts) .
They subjected cells to two different conditions. Acute exposure (two 20-minute sessions separated by an hour). And chronic exposure (20 minutes a day for three days).
Using the UV emitting devices for one 20 minute session resulted in cell death ranging from 20 to 30%.
While 3 consecutive 20-minute exposures caused between 65 – 70% of the exposed cells to die.
The UV exposure also caused mitochondrial and DNA damage in the remaining cells. And this resulted in mutations with patterns that can be observed in skin cancer in humans.
It was Co-author Professor Ludmil Alexandrov’s visit to a dentist that inspired the study
He read a magazine article as he waited his turn about a young beauty pageant contestant. The contestant got diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer on her finger.
“I thought that was odd! so we began looking into it. I noticed many reports in medical journals. They that people who get gel manicures very often– like pageant contestants.
And aestheticians– are reporting cases of very rare cancers in the fingers. Suggesting this may be something that causes this type of cancer,” says Alexandrov.
“If you look at the way these devices get presented, they market as safe, with nothing of concern . But to the best of our knowledge, no one has actually studied these devices. And how they affect human cells at the molecular and cellular levels until now.” adds Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor of bioengineering at the od San Diego university.
So, is UV light from nail lamps bad for your skin?
Dr. Susan Massick works at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She is a dermatologist. Massick is also an associate professor of medicine at The Ohio State University.
She stated in a university article that these dryers get marketed as safe. But, they are not.
“The assumption is that there’s no risk or downside to using these convenient tools. But the problem is that UVA rays are carcinogenic. Exposing your skin to direct, concentrated amounts aren’t recommended. Whether they’re coming from a tanning bed or from a gel manicure dryer. The skin on fingertips and around nails is also harder to treat when we find problems,” she said.
So what is the healthiest way to get your nails done?
Dr Massick recommends individuals to use alternative methods. These include drying their nails with methods, such as air drying or using a fan.
Dermatologists also recommend soaking-off gel nails instead of acrylic nails. Choosing a salon that uses a LED curing light rather than a UV curing light. You could as well ask your nail technician to skip the cuticle trimming. And finally you can reserve artificial nails for special occasions.
How often is it safe to get them?
Gel nails last about 2-3 weeks. While you can get gel nails every week, its better to have them rest a bit. In fact, dermatologists recommend leaving nails bare for at least 1-2 weeks. This is between manicures. The space aids in the strengthening, repair, and rehydration of the nails.
