Um, Are Gel Manicures Posing A Risk To Our Health?

We’ve all pondered it, even if just for a fleeting moment as our hands feel a little warm under the UV light. But have we ever considered what the true impact of a gel manicure may be? Enough to deliberate whether a coat of fresh nude shellac is actually worth it? Well, not us at least. Not until a recent study released by Nature Communications revealed that UV lamp radiation can cause mutations in human cells which act as a precursor to skin cancer.

Look, don’t get us wrong, we love a shellac manicure more than the next guy but the second the ‘c’ word enters the chat? We’re out of here.

So, what’s the truth about UV lamps? Do we need to forego our fortnightly manicure appointments in favour of our health?

Here’s everything we know…

What is a UV lamp?

Referred to as either LED lamps or UV lamps, these devices are used to set gel manicures and accelerate the drying time of polish coats.

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Is a UV nail lamp the same as a tanning bed?

Like tanning beds — which are now illegal in Australia — UV nail lamps emit UVA radiation. And if you’re asking dermatologist Dr. Anna Guanche, she does believe the two should be considered equal, labelling nail lamps as “mini tanning beds” during a recent conversation with Refinery29. An eye-opening comparison don’t you think?

“UV rays from the sun, tanning beds and these nail curing devices all use UV to penetrate into the DNA and mutate it; these mutations lead to skin cancer in the future,” she said.

However, generally, the strength of nail lamps and time of exposure during sessions is lower than that of a tanning bed.

Which manicures require the use of a UV lamp?

All manicures which use a light-curing polish require the use of a UV lamp to set. This includes shellac, SNS and the newly popular builder gel.

Is a UV nail lamp the same as an LED face mask?

Unlike UV nail lamps, LED masks are not built with any UV. Often a cause for confusion, your LED mask is not going to put you at any risk of skin cancer nor will it ever give you a tan. Ok, got it.

Will exposure to a UV nail lamp cause cancer or impact my health negatively?

To put just how much UV light a manicure exposes us to in perspective, Doug Schoon, chief scientific advisor at CND, Paul Bryson, director of research and development at OPI, and Jim McConnell, president of McConnell Labs conducted their own tests to determine how many UV rays are emitted from nail lights in comparison to natural sunlight.

The results? With nail lights that contained up to four 9-watt UV bulbs, the amount of UVB rays the skin was exposed to during a manicure each fortnight would be the equivalent of someone who spent an extra 17 to 26 seconds in the sun per day between appointments.

As for UVA exposure, it was the equivalent of an extra 1.5 to 2.7 minutes of sunlight extra every day over the two-week period between manicures.

The test results concluded that UV lamps were safe when used as directed and that hands were more exposed to UV light when driving during the day than when under a lamp at a manicure. Interesting indeed.

While the test results didn’t deliver alarming, undeniable links to skin cancer, they also don’t return a zero-risk result.

“I think the risks are clearly there, but how much of a risk it is? It’s not super clear at this point,” Dr Karam told Refinery29. So when might we have a more conclusive result? “It often happens after five, 10, 15 years of exposure,” he confirmed.

What are the best precautions to take when getting a manicure?

As we know, UV exposure doesn’t just lead to skin cancer but it also increases the risk of pigmentation and wrinkles. It’s for this reason that it’s recommended to apply an SPF 50+ before getting your nails done and even consider wearing fingerless gloves for added protection.

What are other alternatives to gel manicures?

Obviously, foregoing them in general is one solution. However, if the sight of bare nails throws you off, try a regular polish over shellac or SNS.

Yes, there are obvious disadvantages like longevity and length of time they take to dry but if you’re worried about skin cancer, what’s a chipped nail in the scheme of things?

Plus, regular nail polish can be of benefit to the health of your nails. The removal of shellac polish can often be damaging to the nail bed and responsible for weakened nails.

We love the quick-drying essie expressie nail polish range ($10.99, Chemist Warehouse) which take only 60 seconds to dry. Heaven.

Main image credit: @harrietwestmoreland

Are you concerned about getting a gel manicure? Have you stopped getting a gel manicure since hearing the claims that the lamps can increase skin damage?