UV manicures: Expert warns of cancer risk without protection
Dr Neera Nathan, a dermatologist, warns against using hybrid and gel manicures without proper protection. Even a brief, 20-minute exposure to a UV lamp can lead to DNA mutations, increasing the risk of cancer.
Dr Neera Nathan, a dermatologist, warns against using hybrid and gel manicures without proper protection. Even a brief, 20-minute exposure to a UV lamp can lead to DNA mutations, increasing 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.
The expert noted that, as a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, she has identified and treated skin cancer on the hands and fingers of women whose only apparent risk factor was prolonged exposure to UV lamps during 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 issue associated with gel and hybrid manicures. Dr Nathan warns that nails treated with such procedures can become brittle. For these reasons, the expert advises avoiding UV lamps.
However, if we decide to paint our nails this way despite the risk, we should use creams with SPF 30+ and wear protective gloves during nail drying. This minimises 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 be worn during nail drying.
