Using UV lamps to set gel manicures increases the risk of skin damage Popular treatments such as long-lasting gel manicures are actually doing more harm than good, new research has found. Dermatologists are warning that regular treatments can cause long-term damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
A gel manicure uses a special type of polish such as Shellac or OPI that hardens under a UV light. They are popular as the colour lasts for weeks without chipping or losing its sheen.
However, frequent users have complained that over time their nails start to peel and break.
Now experts have confirmed the process does cause nail thinning and brittleness and warn that there are long-term health risks as well.
Dr Chris Adigun, the author of the study from the New York University School of Medicine, said: “Women who frequently get gel manicures should consider their skin cancer risk.”
Published in the American Academy of Dermatology, the study reveals that the lamps used to set the gel polish use UV light which causes skin damage in a similar way to sunbeds.
There is the added worry that the machines aren't regulated meaning consumers don't know how much exposure they are getting to the rays.
The news comes after two middle-aged women developed tumours on their hands following exposure to UV nail lights in 2009.
Dr Adigun also added that the long-lasting manicures could hide any nail problems such as an infections or tumour, which could delay diagnosis.
“Any manicure left in place for an extended period of time is not a good idea because you are not seeing what is going on underneath the nail polish,'” he said.