UV Nail Dryers for Gel Manicures May Raise Skin Cancer Risk
Gel manicures are a popular option at salons because they’re so long-lasting compared with traditional varnish manicures. But a small laboratory study published January 17 in Nature Communications found that repeated exposure to UV light from the special nail dryers used for gel manicures may raise skin cancer risk, contradicting previous research that deemed the dryers safe.“I definitely did not expect these results,” says Maria Zhivagui, PhD, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at UC San Diego who focuses on cellular and molecular medicine. “These machines are widely marketed as safe, even by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). … I got very worried and have stopped using gel manicure just to be safe and take as much precaution as possible.”Although people are aware that…