UV Lights, Skin Cancer, And How To Get Safer Gel Nails

UV Light And Skin Cancer

Gel nails are "cured" with a UV light that is three to five times stronger than the rays found in a sunbed. The fact that frequent tanning puts you at risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, is old news and you've probably decided to stick to fake tans instead.

How big is the risk that the UV light at your nail salon will give you skin cancer? This is not currently quite clear, but it's certainly going to depend on the frequency with which you get your nails done. Dr Chris Adigun, assistant professor of dermatology at The Ronald O Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU School of Medicine, believes "moderation is the key", meaning an occasional gel manicure is better than being a gel-nail junkie.

The concrete risk of skin cancer induced by UV nail lights is "not zero, but it's quite low", she says. It is undeniable that the increased risk of skin cancer is something all gel-nail users should consider, however. Besides skin cancer, you'll risk prematurely aging hands — something you probably don't want either.

Tips For A Safer Gel Manicure

We've covered three major health concerns of gel manicures so far: thinning of the nail bed, hands dried out by acetone, and the increased risk of skin cancer due to frequent exposure to UV nail lights. There are a few other risks that we want you to be aware of, however. 

Acetone isn't the only chemical you'll find in a nail salon. Toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and methacrylic acid are just four more you'll encounter, out of a long list. Being in contact with these chemicals on a regular basis isn't going to do your health any good, something nail technicians themselves should certainly be aware of.

It's also always a good idea to check that your nail technician has the right training and is actually qualified for her job. Besides that, you'll want to make sure that the tools used to apply your nails are either disposable or properly sterilized. 

Read More: Tips for Healthy Strong Nails

Are you going to get gel nails despite the risks? You are certainly not alone. Thankfully, there are some proactive steps you can undertake to minimize the negative health effects of your gel manicure:

• Apply a sun screen to your hands before you get your nails done, or wear sun-protective gloves with the finger tips cut off. 
• Ask your nail technician not to soak your whole hands in acetone — go for fingers only, or ask her to file your gel down instead.
• Allow your nails to be gel-free every once in a while, and observe how they recover. 
• Don't go to a nail salon that uses drills to shape the nails.
• Don't have your nails done more often than you have to — if you're careful, gel nails can last you up to three weeks.
• See a dermatologist if you run into problems with your hands or nails.