The last time we were at our fave salon getting super cute nail art, we noticed something. A not-so-good something. The lamp for gel manicures that we repeatedly placed our hands in throughout the treatment had a little sticker on it that said UV/LED. Given that every Cosmo ME girl gets an A+ in skincare knowledge, we instinctively knew UV lights are a *major* 🚩🚩🚩when it comes to our skin’s health. After all, UVA rays silently destroy our collagen and cause premature aging while UVB rays burn our skin.
It was a WTF moment that totes spoiled our happy mood. We had to know if the UV lights were causing harm during our gel manicures so we went right to the experts. We hit up aesthetician, skin expert, and founder of The Skincare Network (you rock, sis), Emily Ripley, to get the deets on what’s ~really~ going down during our monthly mani’s.
UV lights + their effect on skin
First things first, Emily assured us by telling us “many studies have been carried out to look at the darker risks associated with manicure lights, ie. skin cancer, the results deemed it to be of a very low risk.” That sounds good to us however she went on to say, “there are a number of skin issues that can arise as a result of exposure. Dark spots, fine lines, and dry skin to name but a few.”
“It’s important to note that this is all dependent on the amount of time you are exposed to this type of radiation. The lights used in a manicure lamp are usually UV or LED. Some people believe LED lights to be the safer option and whilst this may be correct it’s important to remember it’s still within the UVA spectrum and overexposure can carry the same complications.”
It’s our nails, too
So what about our nails? “Nails are made up of a protein called keratin (the same protein in hair) and this makes it a lot tougher than skin. However manicure lights can easily dry out the nail plate, and just like the skin, nails can develop cancer too.”
Nail cancer from gel manicures? Whaaa?
“Whilst it’s much rarer than skin cancer, it’s not something to rule out completely. A monthly manicure shouldn’t be a cause for concern, however, there have been cases in which patients have had undiagnosed subungual melanoma (a specific type of nail cancer) but because of consistent manicure after manicure with no break in between to check the colour, and condition of the nails, it goes undiagnosed. If your manicurist isn’t trained to look for these things she might not be able to spot unwanted changes or warning signs. If you notice any changes in your skin or nails you must seek advice from a dermatologist.”
What can we do? (Cuz giving up our gel manis is *not* an option)
With this new info, we’re trying to figure out how to protect our hands from the UV lamps? Emily suggests applying SPF before our appointment. “Theoretically you should be applying a high factor SPF on your hands at least 15 minutes before going to the nail salon. Whilst there are some great hand creams containing SPF, it doesn’t have to be something specifically hand-related. Your normal face SPF will do the trick. Apply a generous quantity (about one Dirham size per hand) and reapply after hand washing or every two hours, whichever comes first.”
And FYI, you should be applying SPF to your hands everyday
“Hand SPF isn’t limited to the salon trips. It should actually be used daily and reapplied every two hours. Hands are as readily exposed to all UV and daily wear and tear just as much as our faces, if not more.
Emily suggests rubbing a “nourishing cream or oil” onto your hands in the evening “and wrapping them in cling film for 30-40 minutes. This occlusive method helps the product to soften and hydrate so when you remove it your skin will be baby soft.” We recommend trying Kayali’s Vanilla l 28 Hand Cream (Dhs65, sephora.ae) as it’s packed with hydrating and softening skin conditioning ingredients. (Supplied)
“Think how many times you drench your hands in soapy water, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer. There is an old saying “you can tell a woman’s real age by looking at her hands” this couldn’t be more accurate. Many age-defying women have been caught out by neglecting their hands.”
Another reason why hand care has taken a step up from a luxury hand cream… we have seen an increase in women wanting more hardcore hand treatments. Some of our most requested hand treatments are finger-facials, exfoliating acid peels, dermal fillers, and hydrating skin boosters.”