MANY women love to get a manicure – and even consider it a treat.
But the common – and often expensive – habit could be doing you more harm than good, as experts warn it could cause skin cancer.
GettyUV lights used in nail salons could increase risk of skin cancer[/caption]
The UV lamps used in high-street salons to dry nails and harden gel can damage the skin in a similar way to sunbeds, US researchers found.
In a series studies, the experts found a high proportion of skin cells repeatedly exposed to the light emitted by these lamps died.
And the cells which did survive showed signs of damage which increases the risk of skin cancer.
Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the authors warned: “Our experimental results strongly suggest that radiation emitted by UV nail polish dryers may cause cancers of the hand.”
They added: “UV nail polish dryers, similar to tanning beds, may increase the risk of early-onset skin cancer.”
However, they explained that the study does not provide direct evidence to suggest the devices cause cancer.
Beauty queen Karolina Jasko, was diagnosed with skin cancer after years of “getting my nails done”.
Karolina, who was crowed Miss Illinois in 2018, went straight to the doctor after she noticed a black line under her fingernail which turned out to be subungual melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that affects the nail bed.
Dr Walayat Hussain, a spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists, previously told The Sun Online: “Nail melanoma can occur, it is quite a rare form of melanoma.
“It is an isolated, pigmented streak going through one of your nails.
“It is like having a mole in the nail, it is the same process as a mole anywhere else on the body it just happens to be occurring where the nail sits.”
To protect yourself for the potentially damaging rays, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a broad spectrum sunscreen to hands 20 minutes before your treatment.
However, this precaution does not protect against subungual melanoma.
If getting a regular manicure, the safest bet is to allow nails to air-dry naturally, avoiding the drying lamps altogether or use an air blower or fan without UV lights.
Symptoms of subungual melanoma
It’s important that if you are worried, you should always see your GP – as subungual melanoma may not always present with a streak on the nail.
So it’s important that you look out for other signs on the nails and toes that could indicate illness.
changing colour
thinning
redness and swelling
nails lifting from the nail bed
pitting
grooves or gaps
curvature
thick and overgrown
Source: NHS