Gel manicures save us from spending time letting our nail polish dry because they dry almost instantly under the special ultraviolet lamp. But when you know UV light isn’t healthy for your skin, how safe is drying your nails under one? Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Brides, “Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, even in the form of a nail polish dryer, can increase the risk of the exposed skin to premature aging,” since the skin on your hands is thinner than other parts of your body.
What about the at-home lamps we use to dry our gel nails? Dr. Dana Stern, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of the nail, saod, “Even if it is an LED device (most of the at-home devices are LED and many salons have LED light sources), the light is within the UV spectrum,” according to ManiGlovz Manicure Gloves. And UV light is associated with signs of aging such as dark spots and wrinkles, meaning the longer and more often you are exposed to UV lights, the worse it is for your skin. Dr. Stern also shared with the publication that exposing your nails to UV light can lead to thinning of your nails due to the removal process.
