First lamp exposure study
Scientists from the University of California at San Diego and the University of Pittsburgh in the USA have found that the ultraviolet light emitted from nail lamps can damage the DNA of human cells. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
There are several types of lamps for manicures, but all use predominantly near ultraviolet (UVA). Rays of the same spectrum reach the Earth with solar radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet rays is known to trigger mutations in DNA that can cause skin cancer, so long stays in the sun or frequent solariums are not recommended.
“Small doses of ultraviolet light are necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, activation of processes in the cerebral cortex, increased mental and physical performance, faster healing of wounds and ulcers. However, prolonged and intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation leads to the development of various diseases, including cancer.
The issue of human overexposure to ultraviolet radiation has long been investigated, and the results of the studies are disappointing: previous meta-analyses have shown a causal relationship between skin cancer and exposure to UV-emitting devices, especially for sunbathing.
– The chief oncologist of SM-Clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor Alexander Seryakov said in an interview with socialbites.ca.
However, there is no evidence yet of the possible risks of using nail lamps.
Damage and Mutations
Experiments with human and mouse skin cells have shown that 20-30% of them die after two 20-minute sessions in the manicure lamp. In the surviving cells, the researchers found DNA damage and mutations associated with skin cancer.
Results in cell lines are not fully transferable to the skin, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the experiment was excessive – usually fingers remain in the lamp for a total of about 10 minutes during a manicure, authors’ study note. shows that.
“LED nail lamps are made on the basis of ultraviolet LEDs, in which a semiconductor heterostructure emits light in the wavelength range from 315 to 400 nanometers (close to ultraviolet). The radiation power can be quite high (tens of watts), on the one hand necessary for the rapid hardening of the nail polish, on the other hand, it is very harmful to skin cells. After all, ultraviolet can be attributed to ionizing radiation, as it has bactericidal properties.
In fact, LED lamps for nails are similar to a solarium that acts locally on the fingers, ”Stepan Andreev, Professor of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, told socialbites.ca.
He added that in sunlight, the rate of ultraviolet radiation is relatively small compared to visible light. The maximum radiation of the sun falls on the green color and is the so-called radiation of a completely black body, which in general includes all wavelengths.
“Therefore, it will take much more time to harden the nail polish under the influence of sunlight than under the influence of special LED lamps,” said Andreev.
Who can and who can’t
NN Petrov» Ministry of Health of Russia, oncologist Zamira Radzhabova.
“There is still no reliable data that says the risk of getting skin cancer increases when you get a manicure,” he said. – Presumably, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from lamps can be a provoking factor in the development of malignant tumors of the skin and nail phalanges, but all these assumptions require careful verification. So far, no contraindications to the use of UV lamps for manicure have been recorded.
Foreign experts recommend using gloves that leave only the nail plates open during manicure – this reduces the area of ultraviolet exposure. If you have pigmented moles or moles on your hands, just in case, you can apply sunscreen to your hands before the manicure. It is worth doing, and it is desirable only to be in the open sun, protecting the skin.
Seryakov advises to consider the use of UV lamps more carefully, although there are no contraindications.
“A study of cell arrays shows that radiation from UV nail dryers is cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic. It provides no direct evidence of an increased risk of finger skin cancer in humans, but doctors still believe that UV lamps for manicures, such as UV lamps for tanning beds, may be a risk factor. — The main characteristics of any UV lamp are the strength of its radiation, the range of the wave spectrum, the type of glass and its service life, from which parameters depend on how useful or harmful the lamp will be to humans.
Most people cannot accurately control the UV dose on their own and resort to timely protection methods, so they are often overdosed, causing all sorts of problems.
A healthy person with moderate use of the manicure lamp is unlikely to be at risk of serious cancer, burns, or severe photoaging of the hands. However, if the skin is very sensitive, and exposure to sunlight quickly causes redness, peeling, itching, then such people should be more careful when doing a manicure – such a reaction to ultraviolet radiation is associated with an increased risk of developing skin cancer. It can occur not only from birth, but also against the background of taking certain medications or using cosmetics containing components that increase photosensitivity, such as musk or orange oil.
“I also warn those with pigmented moles on their fingers and toes and advise to forego a manicure with a UV lamp or carefully protect problem areas – use a cream with a high level of SPF, anti-UV gloves with slits. the tips of the fingers.
Those who already have skin cancer in their anamnesis should avoid such a drying method during manicure and pedicure, ”added Seryakov.
In addition, the oncologist advises those with eczema or psoriasis, those with systemic diseases, those with close relatives with skin cancer, as well as children and adolescents, to be careful with UV lamp manicure and exposure in general. ultraviolet radiation If you have been taking photosensitivity medications for a long time, you should consult your doctor to find out how much UV light is acceptable.