Skin cancer from nail salon drying lamps: “mini tanning bed”

Many nail salon drying lamps use UV technology to quickly dry nail polish. Also LED lights. And UV rays increase the risk of skin cancer. Just like a sun bed. “The higher and longer the wavelength of UV rays, the deeper they penetrate the skin and the more skin damage they cause,” explains dermatologist Angelina Erges of Amvin Hospital. “Nail stylists’ lamps have a longer wavelength. And they do damage.”

The nail stylists themselves find it a bit overdone. “Oh, my God,” designer Daisy Medina of Eindhoven responded instantly. “What is this bullshit.” She herself uses a UV-LED lamp in her nail studio. She does not really see the evil of the lamps. “Nowadays, everything has become a carcinogen. It doesn’t bother me much.”

Stylists are particularly skeptical because clients only have to hold their fingers under the lamp for a few seconds. “Small,” says salon owner Heilke de Been of Etten-Leur. In each session, she applies foundation, builder, color, and top coat to her clients. “Four times under the lamp, two minutes,” she explains. “That’s about eight minutes a month. You think about it, but also let it pass quickly. You’re only down for it for a little while.”

However, dermatologist Gertrude Crickles, of the Mohsa Skin Center in Bladel and Eindhoven, thinks it’s very good. KWF advises against using LEDs. “The devil is in the dose, even if you only get eight minutes of radiation a month. The UV rays build up and do a little damage each time.”

She thinks the ban goes too far, but a warning is definitely needed. “As a salon, at least tell people, especially if it happened in the family. And try to protect yourself as a client at other times.” For example, by placing a tube of sunscreen with at least an SPF of 25 alongside your toothpaste, advises a dermatologist. Or wear gloves to the nail salon, Erji adds. “This way the skin doesn’t need to get all those UV layers.”