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Nail lamps emit UVA light

Ultraviolet (UV) light is emitted by the sun and tanning beds. It can damage skin and lead to skin cancer.

There are two types of UV light: UVA and UVB. Both UVA and UVB rays cause skin aging and contribute to skin cancer risk, while UVB rays can directly cause sunburn and skin cancer, according to the .

Most UV lamps used in manicures and pedicures release UVA. And while the UV exposure from an occasional manicure seems relatively low, George says you shouldn¡¯t ignore it.

¡°It¡¯s still a risk we should be aware of and try to reduce,¡± she says.

Research on UV nail lamps and skin cancer

There have been a handful of studies exploring UV exposure from nail lamps.

A  reported that two healthy women developed skin cancer on their hands. These women had no personal or family history of skin cancer. Both had used UV nail lamps regularly, but it was hard to determine if that¡¯s what caused their cancers.

In a , researchers tested the amount of UVA emitted by 17 nail drying lamps in 16 salons. They found that the amount of UVA exposure varies widely from lamp to lamp. But even with the highest-wattage lamps, the amount of UV radiation produced at a single visit to a nail salon did not appear to be a serious concern. The researchers concluded that it would take multiple visits to get enough exposure to cause DNA damage in skin cells. And even after many visits, the risk of cancer was likely low.

A 2023  found that radiation from UV nail lamps could cause DNA damage and genetic mutations. However, this research wasn¡¯t done on human skin, George notes.

Nail lamps emit much lower levels of UVA radiation than tanning beds, which are known to cause skin cancer. A  showed tanning bed use is to blame for more than 419,000 cases of skin cancer in the United States each year. That¡¯s more than the number of lung cancer cases attributed to smoking each year.

¡°Based on the information we have now, the risk of skin cancer from nail dryers appears to be low,¡± George says. ¡°But because your UV exposures add up over a lifetime, if you¡¯re a salon regular or at high risk for skin cancer, it¡¯s safest to do what you can to lower your exposure.¡±

For example, you¡¯re at high risk of skin cancer if you have:

• Fair skin
• Had lots of past UV exposure
• Previously had skin cancer

RELATED: Who¡¯s at increased risk for skin cancer?

Still, more studies exploring how much certain exposures, like UVA nail lamps, increase skin cancer risk would be helpful, George says.

¡°Some women go in and get their nails done every month since age 20 or 15, so it raises the question: ¡®What¡¯s the potential for this long-term repeat exposure?¡¯¡± she says.

How to protect your skin while getting a manicure or pedicure

If you choose to get a manicure or pedicure, here are George¡¯s tips for protecting your skin in the process.

• Apply sunscreen to skin that will be exposed to the nail lamp.
• Wear fingerless gloves.
• Consider services that don¡¯t use UV lamps, such as manicures and pedicures using regular or dip polish.

¡°Next time you¡¯re headed to the salon, bring your favorite sunscreen and ask your manicurist if it can be applied as part of the lotion and massage part of your manicure, or consider a service that doesn¡¯t require use of the UV lamps,¡± she says.

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