Study Finds UV Nail Lamps Can Cause DNA Mutations

It’s always been a nagging question when I put my fingers under a UV lamp to cure my shiny gel mani - will it damage my skin? Finally, some research proves that UV lamps are dangerous. Editor Trudi Brewer reveals the latest scientific research, and it’s eye-opening.

UV cured gel nails, like sunbeds maybe a thing of the past.

As someone who books a gel or powder dip mani every four weeks for the joy this fuss-free service offers, I did not want to share in this recent grim report. For me, freshly painted nails that dry in seconds, thanks to the help of ultraviolet LED (UV) lamps, are game-changing when it comes to grooming. But a recent report into the effects of UV exposure - is necessary to share.

The study

It’s nothing new; there have always been questions about the safety of UV nail lamps. Designed to cure gel nails, prior studies noted that long-term use of UV-nail polish lamps might increase the risk of skin cancer. Still, the was no concrete study to determine the long-term effects of the radiation emitted, until now. Published in Nature Communications, this research shows that frequent exposure to UV nail lamps can cause damage to your DNA.

The facts

The study was conducted by the University of California San Diego and the University of Pittsburgh using human and mouse cells and found that UV light from the lamps causes mutations and damage to the cells. As part of the study, cells were placed in UV lamp dryers during the study at different intervals. The first group of cells were placed in the dryer for two 20-minutes sessions with an hour break. In that scenario, about 20 to 30 per cent of the cells died. The second group of cells were exposed for 20 minutes a day for three consecutive days, and about 70 per cent of those cells died. Back to the gel manicure, the bad news for the remaining cells is that they showed signs of DNA damage and mutations linked to skin cancer after UV exposure. While these scenarios used in the study are more extreme than the actual time spent under a UV manicure lamp (which, let’s face it, your fingers are only under the lamp for a minute at a time over the corse of a 40-minute nail service), researchers feel the link is strong enough to serve as a warning.

The take home

According to the researchers, “Our experimental results and the prior evidence strongly suggest that radiation emitted by UV-nail polish dryers may cause cancers of the hand and that UV-nail polish dryers, similar to tanning beds, may increase the risk of early-onset skin cancer.” They went on to say. “More studies are needed before they can conclusively say these UV devices can increase skin cancer risk. However, such studies will likely take at least a decade to complete and subsequently inform the general public.” So will I give up on my gel mani - yes? After this news, I will stick to my SNS Dipping Acrylic Powder, where no UV-curing is required.