Not too long ago, I discovered how quick and convenient it can be to create salon-quality nails from the comfort of my own home. I began applying gel nails and curing them with cheap UV dryers. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread and flaunted my gorgeous nails wherever I went.
Fortunately, I have a great friend who’s always been very honest with me. After noticing my newest manicure, she asked me if I was using UV nail polish dryers. When I told her I was, she immediately informed me about the well-known risks these dryers pose. I decided to check out her claims myself and discovered some shocking and disturbing information. Here’s what I learned about UV nail dryers.
Link to Genetic Mutations
Genetic mutations may sound like something reserved for a science fiction movie, but they are very real and very dangerous. A genetic mutation is any change to the sequence of your DNA. Your cells are constantly replicating, dividing and being replaced by new cells. To avoid unwanted health impacts, it’s important to avoid any unwanted alterations that could happen to the cells during these processes.
Unfortunately, the types of ultraviolet light wavelengths emitted from UV nail dryers have now been shown to potentially cause mutations in human cells. These mutations may increase the risk of skin cancer. At the very least, they can negatively impact the cells in the skin and damage your DNA. Some researchers compare the damage caused by UV nail dryers to the damage caused by tanning beds.
How To Protect Yourself
Now that you know of the potential harm UV nail dryers can cause to your skin, it’s important to decide what you want to do next. You can stay away from these nail dryers altogether (both the at-home and salon versions) or you can choose to protect your skin if you use them.
There are UV-absorbing gloves you can wear during your manicures that expose only your nails. These gloves can offer some degree of protection against the harmful impact of UV nail dryers. However, it’s important to note that UV rays can also be absorbed through the skin underneath your exposed nails, so this may not be a foolproof protection method. You may also wish to apply an SPF product to your hands before using UV nail dryers.
In addition to protecting your skin from potential DNA harm caused by UV nail dryers, the methods above can also help protect your skin from developing premature wrinkles, age spots and other signs of damage associated with UV light exposure.
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