Frequent exposure to UV nail salon lamps increases the risk of DNA damage which may result in skin cancer, a new study finds.
There's nothing better than having a good manicure and having your nails done at the salon. But be warned! This may increase your chances of getting skin cancer, though by a small margin. Researchers from Georgia Regents University found that exposure to higher-wattage ultra violet (UV) lamps at nail salons to dry and cure polish increases skin cancer risk.
They found that these lamps emitted more UV-A radiation that could damage DNA cells. However, this damage takes place only when nails are exposed to this radiation multiple times. Even then the increase of skin cancer risk is small.
"Our data suggest that, even with numerous exposures, the risk for carcinogensis, remains small. That said, we concur with previous authors in recommending use of physical blocking sunscreens or UV-A protective gloves to limit the risk of carcinogenesis and photoaging," lead author Lyndsay R. Shipp said in a press statement.
For the study, researchers tested 17 light units from 16 salons with a wide range of bulbs, wattage and irradiance emitted by each device.
UV-A accounts for approximately 95 per cent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface from the sun. It can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and is responsible for the immediate tanning effect. It also contributes to skin ageing and wrinkling. For a long time it was thought that UVA could not cause any lasting damage. However, this new and previous studies show otherwise.
Studies over the past two decades have shown that UVA damages skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where most skin cancers occur. (Basal and squamous cells are types of keratinocytes.)
Tanning booths primarily emit UVA. The high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. Not surprisingly, people who use tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. According to recent research, first exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent.
"Women who frequently get gel manicures should consider their skin-cancer risk because the UV light needed to cure the gel manicure is a risk factor for skin cancer," Adigun said, according to Fox News.
The finding was published online in JAMA Dermatology.
