The light boxes used to cure polish during gel manicures and to dry traditional nail polish have raised some concern because like tanning beds they emit ultraviolet a uva radiation which is associated with a higher cancer risk.
Are uv nail drying lamps dangerous.
Natural sunlight and uv lamps used for tanning give off the harmful rays as.
The reality is that most people are not spending hours in the nail salon on a daily basis so the likelihood of uv exposure from nail salon lamps leading to skin cancer is low he explains.
Uva irradiance or strength emitted by nail lamps whether fluorescent or led is at least four times stronger than uva from normal sunlight adigun says.
The finding contradicts the feeling of many.
If getting a regular manicure the safest bet is to allow nails to air dry naturally avoiding the drying lamps altogether or use an air blower or fan without uv lights.
Nail dryers are used in salons to dry nail polish and gel coatings between layers.
The problem though is that there are.
However even this precaution does not protect against subungual under the nail squamous cell carcinoma a rare but potentially aggressive form of skin cancer.
Exposure to ultraviolet uv radiation is a risk factor for most skin cancers according to the american cancer society.