Gel manicures: Why you need protection from UV lamps
Dr. Neera Nathan, a dermatologist, warns against using hybrid and gel manicures without proper protection. Even a short, 20-minute exposure to a UV lamp can lead to DNA mutations, which increase the risk of cancer.
She is a dermatologist with many years of experience. She warns women
In one of her social media videos, Dr. Nathan references research published in the journal "Nature." She has personally dealt with cases of skin cancer in women who regularly used UV lamps during nail styling.
She noted that, as a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, she has diagnosed and treated skin cancer on the hands and fingers of women whose only clear risk factor was long-term exposure to UV lamps from years of acrylic or gel manicures.
Take care of your health. Do this before putting your hands under a UV lamp
The risk of cancer is not the only problem associated with gel and hybrid manicures. Dr. Nathan warns that nails treated with such procedures can become brittle. For these reasons, she advises avoiding UV lamps.
However, if we decide to paint our nails this way despite the risks, we should use creams with SPF 30+ and protective gloves during nail drying. This way, we can minimize the negative impact of UV radiation on our skin and nails.
The dermatologist points out that SPF 30+ should be applied to the entire hands at least 20 minutes before using the UV lamp. Fingerless gloves with a special UPF filter should also be worn during nail drying.
