Report: Gel Manicures Can Increase Skin Cancer Risk

They may look nice and last for days without chipping, but doctors are warning that gel manicures could increase your cancer risk.

It's not the nail polish itself, but the ultraviolet lights used to help set the manicure. The American Academy of Dermatology says regularly exposing your hands to the UV light can cause melanoma.

A woman who lives near Chicago just recently claimed the UV lamps at the nail salon gave her cancer. Karoline Jasko says she was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and her doctor said it was most likely caused by getting her nails done at the nail salon.

Karolina Jasko, 20, told WFLD she was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. Jasko says that her doctor said it was most likely caused by getting her nails done at the nail salon. Specifically, Jasko claims the cancer was caused by the lamp that emits UVA rays to cure gel manicures.

According to a report published by the American Academy of Dermatology, UV exposure during gel manicures should be a concern for everyone, but especially for people who are highly sensitive to UV light. Although the UVA rays don't burn the skin like UVB rays, they do penetrate the skin to damage DNA and collagen, which can lead to premature aging and may increase skin cancer risk.

The common misconception people believe is that LED curing lamps provide a safer option at nail salons. However, those lamps also emit UVA light. The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief but is intense. Over time, the intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage.

We know you don’t want to give up getting your nails done, so what can you do? It’s simple. Doctors recommend you put sunscreen on your hands before your manicure even if your salon has you putting on those white gloves. Sunscreen will give you the best protection.

Regardless of whether or not you get regular gel manicures, visit your dermatologist if something seems off. Nonhealing, reddish sores on your hands could indicate a nonmelanoma skin cancer, while a wart-like growth or persistent scaly spot on the hand or around the fingernails could be a sign of a squamous cell carcinoma. (Or just a wart — don’t panic!) Less common are basal cell carcinomas or melanomas, which are generally pigmented and often show up as a streak in the finger or toenail.

If you need to see a Dermatologist now, but an appointment isn’t available for MONTHS then give us a call. At DermDox Dermatology you don’t have to wait. IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENTS available and WALK-INS welcome. Call now - 570.459.0029