Gel manicures have been a mainstay in nail salons across the US and many other areas of the world since its introduction around 2010. It is more resistant to breakage and smearing than regular nail polish, and it retains its luster until you remove it from the fingernails. Most importantly, ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to dry them as it activates the chemicals within the gel to harden.
The dangers of UV are well known, particularly in tanning settings, but scientists have not delved much into those used in gel polishes that might affect human skin, as per Engadget. So, researchers from the University of California San Diego decided to investigate these UV nail polish drying machines after a case of a beauty pageant contestant who was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer.
Ultraviolet Nail Polish Dryers Could Cause Cell Death, Cancer-Causing Mutations
UV Nail Polish Dryer's Effect on Cells
The new study, titled "DNA Damage and Somatic Mutations in Mammalian Cells After Irradiation With a Nail Polish Dryer" published in Nature Communications, showed that UV nail polish drying machines may cause a greater public health risk than previously considered.
Researchers investigated these UV light-emitting gadgets and discovered that their use causes DNA damage and cancer-causing mutations in human cells.
They used various combinations of human and mouse cells and found that a single 20-minute session with a UV nail polish dryer caused up to 30% of the cells in a petri dish to die. Meanwhile, about 65% to 70% of the exposed cells died after three 20-minute sessions.
There was mitochondrial and DNA damage, as well as mutations found in skin cancer patients, among the surviving cells. The team wrote in their study that the experimental results and previous evidence strongly point to radiation from UV nail polish dryers as a potential cause of cancers of the hand and that they are similar to tanning beds that may increase the early onset of skin cancer.
Researchers warned that a longer epidemiological study is needed to conclusively say that the use of UV drying devices leads to an increased risk of skin cancer, although it might take a decade before such research could be completed and subsequently inform the public.
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Is the Cosmetic Benefit Worth the Health Risk?
The findings along with a number of earlier studies of malignancies in patients who often have gel manicures paint a picture of a purely aesthetic technique that is riskier than previously thought, Science Daily reports.
Whether having a gel manicure once a year is a cause for worry or should people who do it frequently be concerned could only be answered with more research to evaluate any elevated cancer risk and the frequency of usage. But with so many options for this cosmetic surgery, the risk may not be worth it for some customers.
One may believe that the advice from the study is to avoid UV dryers, but that is not the case. For good reason, gel manicures have become an industry standard. Regular nail paint chips off after a day or two for many individuals, making a standard manicure frequently not worth the time, money, or effort.
Also, other consumer products use UV light in the same spectrum. This includes the tools used to cure dental fillings and some hair removal treatments. The team notes that the regularity of use, as well as the entire cosmetic nature of nail dryers, sets them apart.
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