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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
DOES that pretty-looking, freshly done manicure come at a price? It could cost more than what you pay the nail technician.
This is not meant to cause panic, but recent studies are showing links between cases of skin cancer, manicures and pedicures, particularly those done with the aid of nail UV lamps. This may start a war, but there are possibilities that these pretty nails may cost more than your money and time spent at the salon — they could be detrimental to your health.
Indeed, gel manicures offer a longer-lasting option than regular manicures, but at what cost? The UV lights used to cure or dry gel polish have some consumers concerned about the risk of skin cancer.
Talk about poor hygiene and general etiquette at some of these nail bars and beauty shops in Bulawayo, some people have had serious infections from being serviced using unsterilised gadgets. Imagine being customer number 20 in a day and your technician hasn’t bothered to sterilise the tools and probably two or three clients who came before had some kind of infection? Luckily most of those can be treated.
What is scarier are the possible effects of these UL/LED nail lamps that we all have to put our feet and hands in for our gel manicures. Come to think of it, we are always being told about the dangers of ultraviolet radiation, however, those little lights use ultraviolet radiation on our fingers and toes, and it will be at very close range, point blank if it was a gunshot.
Well, if you are considering booking an appointment for a set of gel nails for the festive season, you might want to think about more than just the colour. Skin cancer experts are concerned consumers don’t know about the potential risk posed by UV lamps used in nail salons.
UV or LED lamps are used in some nail salons to set gel manicures, and sometimes they’re used to speed-dry regular manicures. Both types of lamps emit UV radiation (predominantly UVA rays).
UV rays penetrate deeply into the skin and cause wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays cause reddening of the skin for light-skinned people and darkening of the skin for darker-skinned persons. They are the main cause of sunburn. Both UVA and UVB rays can also cause skin cancer.
Nail bars are a risky environment for infections to spread if hygiene practices aren’t up to scratch. Bacteria, fungi and viruses can be transferred between customers when equipment isn’t disinfected and sterilised.
There’s no national regulation of nail bars. Instead, the job is left up to councils and voluntary industry standards. Training schools for beauty and nail technicians are sprouting in the country, but there’s little regulation or such in Zimbabwe.
With all the chemicals and appliances that are used, one will never be really sure of their safety.
According to a 2014 study by an American Dermatology Journal, the level of UVA exposure associated with a gel manicure every two weeks probably isn’t high enough to increase the risk of skin cancer significantly, but you are wise to be aware of the issue.
However, other studies suggest that gel manicures have not been around for very long so it would not be accurate to state that they are completely safe. And that they should be approached with caution and done in moderation.
Very little research has been done on the subject in the country. However, such research gaps need to be filled considering the growing cancer incidents in the country, as well as the ever-increasing number of women and men frequenting nail salons as well as the many nail bars that are mushrooming at every corner of the country.
Some dermatologists say that it is safer to protect your hands from UVA exposure by wearing sunscreen on your hands or slipping on a pair of fingerless gloves during your manicure to give your skin some added protection from the potentially damaging UVA radiation.
Regardless of whether or not you get regular gel manicures, visit a dermatologist if something seems off. If you do not have any contacts for a dermatologist, you may visit a general practitioner who may then refer you to a dermatologist, which is the usual case in Zimbabwe.
It is wise to once in a while give your nails some time to breathe and cool off. In between your manicures, just go bare and have your nails exposed, they need some sun, water and air. Gel manicures are hard on the nails, causing damage to the nail plate, especially if picked off.
Some may sting as you place your hands in that UV lamp. Is it just a sting or there could be something more to it? Talk to your technician about it, perhaps skip the lamp procedure and go for something else that won’t give you pain.
This is not meant to make you panic — Your health and life matter.
Happy holidays.
Online Reporter