Nail Salons And Skin Cancer: Study Finds Just 24 Visits Can Put You At Risk

When it comes to skin cancer, you've been warned about roasting in the sun and the harmful effects of tanning beds, but one less known culprit can prove to be just as detrimental: nail salons.

In most nail salons, the consumer has the option to dry their nail varnish under an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, which emits the same skin-damaging light that can cause cancer. Taking into consideration that, for many, getting a manicure is a weekly ritual, the outcome could be devastating.

Until now, there was no clear answer regarding how much of a threat the UV lamps at nail salons are -- some argued that customers used the lamps for a few minutes (ergo they are harmless) while others pointed out that the small amount of time was still dangerous since the lamps were so close to the skin. Now, a new report from journal JAMA Dermatology provides some answers about how threatening the UV lamps really are.

The researchers at Georgia Regents University’s Medical College of Georgia, who looked at 17 different nail dryers from 16 nail salons in the United States, found that most lamps emit more ultraviolet A (UVA) rays than ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. What's the difference? UVA rays penetrate more deeply into skin and are long-wave rays, while UVB rays are shortwave, are more intense, and damages the skin's superficial epidermal layers.

How much UVA light is emitted from the lamps varies from salon to salon, but in the end of the day, no matter how low the emission, the rays are harmful since their damage is cumulative. As such, Dr. Lyndsay Shipp, a resident as the university, and her team have measured that as few as 24 visits to the nail salons (and as high as 625) can trigger cancer-causing damage.

Dr. Shipp notes that the findings of this study are preliminary, and more research needs to be done to confirm the "theoretical risk." In fact, Dr. Shipp told the New York Times that "you can get that amount of exposure when driving down the road in your car."

For those who are concerned about skin safety, there are a few precautionary methods you can implement. First and foremost, consider air drying your nails to avoid the lamps all together. But should you need to use the UV lamp -- say, for a gel manicure -- then consider taking a broad-spectrum sunscreen and having your manicurist apply it before painting your nails. You can also invest in UV-protective gloves that only expose the tips of your finger, thereby ensuring only your nail is exposed to the lamp. Lastly, consumers can look for salons that use LED lights to cure the nails, which emits less UV light.