UV Nail Lamps and Their Cancer Risk

Well this is more than a little concerning.

According to Refinery 29, the Skin Cancer Foundation has just released a study that’s shown those UV nail lamps — that you’d usually see when you get a gel manicure — actually release cancer-causing agents.

“Although studies have shown that the skin-cancer risk associated with UVR-emitting nail lamps for gel manicures is very low, it is not insignificant,” said Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D., vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. She also explained that the lamps up the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer.

So, while the UV lamps aren’t a health risk like, say, smoking, the fact that UV rays are involved whatsoever is relatively eyebrow-raising. Does the risk outweigh the reward? Or vice versa? Just make sure that regardless of what you decide, to apply SPF if you intend on heading outside or exposing yourself to UV whatsoever.