Gel Manicures May Raise Skin Cancer Risk

They're a hot nail salon trend, but the UV radiation used to dry gel manicures can lead to a not-so-pretty result. Here's what you need to know. 

Who wouldn't want beautiful nails that last for weeks? For many women, that's the lure of gel manicures, which use a special polish formulation that produces a glossy, nearly indestructible finish. But dermatologists and other experts are concerned about one aspect of these popular manicures — the ultraviolet (UV) exposure it takes to produce those great results.

Gel manicures are applied in layers, with each layer "cured" or dried under a UV light finish (the same type of light used in tanning beds) for up to 10 minutes. Sunlight is a natural source of UV rays, which can damage skin cells and lead to premature aging and wrinkling — and cause skin cancer. Besides gel manicures, salons use UV lamps to dry traditional nail polish and set acrylic nails.

There's not much research out there on the risks of UV nail lamps. But a 2009 case study published in the Archives of Dermatology reported on two women who developed non-melanoma skin cancer on their hands. Neither woman had a personal or family history of skin cancer, but one had been exposed to UV lights in a nail salon twice a month for 15 years. The second woman used UV nail lights eight times in one year before being diagnosed with skin cancer.

For their part, the nail industry says that visiting the salon for a gel manicure every two weeks exposes you to the equivalent of just two extra minutes in the sun every day, according to an industry-sponsored study cited by ABC News. The UV lamps used in nail salons are also much smaller and less powerful than those used in tanning beds.

However, the authors of the Archives of Dermatology study point out that the amount of radiation received using a nail UV lamp vs a tanning bed is comparable in terms of body surface area being exposed — and over time, every bit of UV exposure adds up. These lamps are also sold online for personal use, and consumers using them to dry manicures at home may not be aware of potential risks. An Amazon.com search revealed UV nail lamps available for as little as $15.

Gel Manicures: Protect Yourself From UV Rays

If you're a gel manicure fan, there are some ways to get those gorgeous nails and stay safe.

Wear sunscreen. In her Huffington Post blog, dermatologist Susan Taylor, MD, suggests using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on your hands and fingers. To pick the best one, it's important to know the difference between the two types of UV light, UV-A and UV-B. Nail UV lights emit UV-A, which penetrates much more deeply into the skin, while UV-B rays are largely responsible for sunburn. Many sunscreens don't protect against UV-A, so look for one that's "broad-spectrum," which means it protects against both types.

Cover up. Dr. Taylor also recommends wearing cotton gloves with the tips snipped off to expose nails while protecting the back of the hands and fingers.

Look to the light. Switch to a salon that uses light-emitting diode (LED) lights to dry manicures, which emit much less UV radiation. As a bonus, LED lights dry faster, too.  

article source : http://www.everydayhealth.com

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