Do gel manicures cause skin cancer?

Do Gel Manicures Cause Skin Cancer?

Based on current evidence, gel manicures likely pose a very low risk of skin cancer, and tens to hundreds of thousands of women would need to use UV nail lamps regularly for one to develop squamous cell carcinoma on the hands as a direct consequence of this exposure.

Understanding the Risk

UV Exposure from Gel Manicures

• UV nail lamps emit UVA radiation used to dry, harden, and cure gel nail polish 1
• These lamps are a source of artificial UVA radiation, which is known to be potentially mutagenic and can cause DNA damage 1
• However, the exposure from typical gel manicure sessions is significantly lower than natural sun exposure 2

Current Evidence on Skin Cancer Risk

• A comprehensive literature search and analysis of the SEER database revealed that gel manicures have little to no carcinogenic risk in young adults 3
• Mathematical modeling indicates that tens or hundreds of thousands of women would need to use UVA nail lamps regularly for one to develop squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the hands as a direct consequence 2
• The available evidence on UV nail lamp safety is limited, with most studies suggesting a low risk of carcinogenesis 4

Risk Factors and Case Reports

Documented Cases

• There have been no reported cases of patients younger than 40 years with a history of chronic gel manicures being diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer or melanoma on the dorsum of the hands or nail matrices 3
• One case report described a 52-year-old woman with over 25 actinic keratoses and two SCC in situ on her dorsal hands after 18 years of UV nail lamp use every 3 weeks, but this was combined with weekly tanning bed use over the same period 5

Contributing Factors

• Combined exposure to multiple UV sources (such as tanning beds and UV nail lamps) may increase risk 5
• Frequency and duration of exposure are likely important factors in determining risk 4
• Individual skin sensitivity and genetic predisposition to skin cancer may play a role 6

Prevention Strategies

Protective Measures

• Using fingerless gloves during gel manicure sessions can reduce the risk to virtually zero 2
• Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF >30 before UV nail lamp exposure is recommended 1
• Limiting the frequency and duration of UV nail lamp exposure may help reduce potential risk 4

General Sun Protection Principles

• The guidelines for skin cancer prevention recommend using various methods (avoiding sun exposure, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing) as the first line of protection against UV radiation 6
• Sunscreen should be used as a complementary measure to other protective behaviors 6
• These same principles can be applied to artificial UV sources like nail lamps 4

Perspective on Risk

Relative Risk Comparison

• The risk from UV nail lamps is considerably lower than that from natural sun exposure or tanning beds 2
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that topical use of sunscreens probably prevents squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, but no conclusion can be drawn about basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma 6
• The risk of inducing SCC from exposure to UVA nail lamps is very low and likely to be accepted by most women 2

Clinical Recommendations

• Patients should be informed about the limited data to make their own decisions regarding gel manicures 4
• Those with higher risk factors for skin cancer (fair skin, history of skin cancer, immunosuppression) may want to take additional precautions 6
• Regular skin examinations remain important for early detection of any suspicious lesions, particularly for those with frequent UV exposure from any source 6

In conclusion, while UV exposure is a known risk factor for skin cancer, the specific risk from gel manicures appears to be very low based on current evidence. Simple protective measures can further minimize this already low risk.