Does getting gel manicures increase my skin cancer risk?
Who doesn’t love a trip to the nail salon? For some people, that includes a gel manicure—known for its glossy finish and long-lasting wear. But if you’ve ever placed your hands under a UV or LED lamp to “cure” the gel polish, you may have wondered: Is this UV exposure something to worry about?
We know most skin cancers are caused by damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. So where do nail salon UV lamps fit into the picture?
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What does the research say about gel manicures and cancer risk?
A 2023 study from the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications indicated that chronic use of UV-emitting devices during a gel manicure can damage DNA and cause mutations in human cells—therefore increasing your risk of skin cancer—but more data are needed before we can be certain just how dangerous the occasional gel manicure might be.
Although cell damage can be worrying, the study does not prove that UV lamps can cause cancer. Cells in a lab are more vulnerable to damage than cells on a person’s hand. To date, there is still no large, long-term study conclusively showing that UV nail lamps cause skin cancer.
Major cancer centers, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, report that UV nail laps emit UV radiation at relatively low doses and for most people, occasional gel manicures are not considered a major skin cancer risk. Dermatology experts continue to emphasize that any current evidence shows potential risk, not definitive proof.
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What should I do if I want to get a manicure?
Even without definitive answers, many experts agree that simple precautions can reduce potential risk—especially for people who get gel manicures regularly.
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If you don’t want to say goodbye to the salon, try limiting how often you go and save the gel manicure for special occasions to reduce cumulative exposure. Or consider a dip powder manicure, which typically does not require a UV lamp. If it does, ask your nail technician to skip the gel topcoat and ask whether air-drying options are available. If you’d rather not spend any time under UV dryers, there’s always good, old-fashioned regular nail polish that can air dry.
If you do decide to get a gel manicure, wear sunscreen or fingerless UV protective gloves.
Whatever you choose, we hope you have the tools and information to feel confident the next time you decide to treat yourself to a day at the salon.