Can nail treatments cause cancer?
Can you get skin cancer if you undergo the occasional gel nail treatment? The straight answer: No
No
Gel manicures and pedicures are popular among women in Hong Kong. The process involves a number of steps. First, a nail technician applies a coat of specially formulated polish, then the nails spend a few minutes under a UV light. This process is repeated two more times.
Women love it because nails dry almost instantly, which means you don't have to worry about the polish smudging before you've left the salon. Another plus is it can last for up to three weeks. It offers a glossy shine, and there is no chipping and flaking as there is from a regular mani-pedi.
There have been reports about the potential dangers of the salons' ultraviolet lamps. Critics have claimed the technique can damage the skin and nails, and cause skin cancer.
According to Dr Low Chai-ling, medical director of The Sloane Clinic in Singapore, the ultraviolet lamps used to dry and cure the nail polish deliver the same hazardous UV rays as tanning beds. But she adds it would take many treatments to cause damage. "Unless you are undergoing this treatment many times a month increasing your cumulative exposure, I wouldn't ask you to stop."