Gel manicures, which can last 2-3 times longer than traditional polish-based manicures, have become very popular, but may pose health risks because of the extensive use of ultraviolet (UV) light to dry the gels. This UV light can increase the risk of skin cancers like melanoma, and can even cost you the whole fingernail! Many of the studies that purport to demonstrate the safety of UV lamps used in gel manicures are actually funded by the manicure and cosmetics industries! By contrast, the Skin Cancer Foundation is far more concerned about the risk of exposing your hands repeatedly to UV radiation just to get a manicure.

Key Takeaways:

• The people who are focused on getting manicures do not consider the negative effects.
• People around the world are getting manicures daily and exposing themselves to bad chemicals.
• Women are so caught up with the notion of getting a manicure that they can turn a blind eye to revealing information.

“Gel manicures have become the preferred nail manicure for many women these past few years instead of the traditional polish that has been around since the early 1900s.”

“In contrast, the Skin Cancer Foundation Senior Vice President Elizabeth K. Hale, MD has released a report about the risks of nail lamps, saying:

‘Ultraviolet radiation-emitting nail lamps have become a regular part of most trips to the nail salon, causing many patrons to question manicure safety. These lamps are typically used to speed-dry regular manicures, and they are actually necessary to set gel manicures. Some nail lamps are called “UV” lamps, and some are called LED lamps, but both emit UV radiation. They predominantly produce UVA rays, which have been linked to both premature skin aging and skin cancer. However, even the most intense of these devices presents only a moderate UV risk – a far lower risk than that presented by UV tanning devices. To play it safe with gel manicures, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen to hands 20 minutes prior to UV light exposure. If getting a regular manicure, the safest bet is to allow nails to air-dry naturally, avoiding the drying lamps altogether. Remember, all nail lamps produce UV radiation.’”

Read more: https://theheartysoul.com/hidden-health-risks-gel-manicures/