The constant need for beautiful and polished nails has given rise to the emergence of nail salons, but it is not always possible to visit them. The introduction of home UV nail lamps has made things easier for women, allowing them to achieve the same manicured nails at home. However, there are certain areas of concern regarding UV nail lamps in general, and whether using them regularly causes harm, and if having a nail UV lamp at home is safe.

The concerns are genuine for those who are regular with the nail manicure session, and we will try to explain the safety protocols while using these lamps, as well as how potential risks are involved in the use, and do they pose a serious threat when being used at home.

What Are UV Nail Lamps?

If you are a regular user of UV nail lamps to dry your nail paint, then you must be aware of what it is and how it works. However, many thinking of getting it for home use might not have a detailed idea about it so before we delve into the safety and other related specifics, let us know about what they are and how they work.

UV nail lamps are used to harden the UV gel nail polish. These lamps emit ultraviolet rays and activate photoinitiators contained in gel polish to cure the gel polish merely in mere minutes. The process of curing gel nail polish results in a long-lasting manicure.

Now that you know how UV nail lamps work to cure the nail gel or polish, we will now move to a bigger concern, which is the potential risks associated with using UV nail lamps.

Potential Risks of Using Home UV Nail Lamps

Generally, using nail light UV lamps poses no severe risk given that you expose your nails to them for about 1 to 2 minutes, but at the same time, we can’t negate the possible effects of it on your skin. Let’s talk about the risks that are commonly associated with its use.

Premature Aging and Skin Damage

If you have a UV nail lamp at home, chances of using it frequently increases, but the regular use can lead to premature aging of hands and skin damage, further leading to pigmentation and dryness. The UV rays released from the lamp damage the elastin and collagen present in the skin, resulting in wrinkles.

Weakening Cuticles and Nails

As you put your nails directly under the nail lamp, the light and heat released may result in breaking down the nails more often and increase the brittleness of the area around the cuticles. For some skin types, this can even lead to the discoloration of the skin and easy peeling.

Eye Damage

Even if you are using the lamp at home, you have to be cautious about what you expose under it and using the right gear for important body parts, especially eyes. There is no way that you can completely eliminate the possibility of looking at the lamp directly or indirectly, and it can cause damage to your eyes, resulting in vision issues or developing a condition called photokeratitis.

Allergies

Many times, people are not aware of their skin sensitivity unless something triggers it, and a UV nail lamp can be one thing to trigger it. When you expose it after applying gel nail polish that usually contains chemicals, it can trigger the sleeping allergic reactions with symptoms like itching, redness, and irritation.

Skin Cancer

Perhaps the most serious threat of using UV nail lamps is the skin cancer. The UV rays released from the lamp penetrate through the skin and cause DNA damage. Certain studies have shown that regular use of the UV lamp without protection can increase the risk of mutation, which is the leading cause of skin cancer.

Can Home UV Nail Lamps Cause Cancer?

While other potential risks are not a great matter of concern as they can be minimized, the concern regarding UV nail lamps causing cancer should be addressed if you intend to use it at home. As these nail lamps release the same UVA radiations as emitted by the sun, they are linked to the increased risks of cancer. There may have been research that have established the link, but it depends on several factors like how often you are using the lamp, the type of lamp, and allergies and sensitivity.

Safety Tips to Use Home UV Nail Lamps to Reduce the Chance of Potential Risks

Keep in mind that the risk of developing cancer is never eliminated, but some safety tips while using these lamps can have a very minimal impact on your skin. Below, we are sharing some of the most important ones:

Choose the Right Lamp

When you visit the salon, they use higher wattage to cure the gel polish because they have a long queue of clients waiting for the service, but when you are buying one for home, choose one with less wattage. The higher wattage produces harsher and abundant radiation, exposing you to a higher chance of risk. Pick a lamp that does the job in 2 to 3 minutes.  

Apply Sunscreen

Before you keep your hands exposed to UV rays emitted by the UV nail lamps, despite the intensity, apply sunscreen properly on your hands and especially in and around nail areas. Sunscreen with SPF 30 or a little higher is ideal because it creates a barrier between the rays and your skin and protects your skin.

Limited Use

Even though you love your manicured nails, exposing them regularly under the UV nail lamp is not a great idea. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting a salon or using it at home; do not use it more than once or twice a month. No amount of protection and shield can keep you safe if you are constantly exposing your skin to UV rays.

In general, using a home UV led nail lamp is safe, but you must be cautious with its use and put in place certain safety tips. The technology implemented in the manufacturing of these UV nail lamps makes it way safer, but the risks are always associated.