Manicure sessions are not harmless, reveals a study published by the journal Nature Communications and relayed by Midi Libre.
It confirms the doubts of some scientists about UV lamps intended to dry gel or semi-permanent nail polish.
Indeed, if many women have got into the habit of going to a beauty salon several times a year, this practice could cost them dearly in the long term.
A team of researchers from the universities of San Diego and Pittsburgh (California, USA) carried out a series of experiments involving UV lamps used in nail salons.
They had been challenged by the cases of several women suffering from skin cancer in the hands.
As part of their study, the scientists exposed human and animal cells to UV radiation for about 20 minutes.
Better to air dry your nails
The results are more than worrying: 48 hours after exposure, the researchers found that 20 to 30% of the cells had been destroyed.
This figure even increases to 65-70% when the UV session is repeated three times in a row.
Even if the majority of beauty salons only dry their client's nails for eight minutes, the consequences can indeed be harmful if exposure to UV radiation is frequent.
How to protect against the risk of hand cancer?
The answer is simple: by air-drying your nail polish.
Otherwise, dermatologists recommend limiting the frequency and duration of exposure to these controversial lamps, as well as applying broad-spectrum sunscreen to your hands before the manicure.
There are also special gloves revealing only the nails.
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