Are Gel Manicures Worth the Risk of Skin Cancer?

When Everything She Wants was offered a gel manicure at a press preview, we couldn't resist. We'd never had a gel manicure before, but we should have suspected something out of the ordinary was up when our skilled manicurist asked if we felt any burning while our nails bathed in blue light under a heated lamp. Yikes!

Refinery29 did a thorough report on the health risks associated with the gel nail trend, and luckily our Gelish Soak-Off Gel Polish manicure was dried using an LED lamp instead of a UV lamp.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, ultraviolet radiation (UV) can cause skin cancer, and that includes gel manicure UV curing lamps. Although the risk for getting squamous cell caricnoma (SCC) from a gel manicure--the second most common skin cancer caused by frequent UV exposure--is reportedly low, we're not willing to take any chances.

My Gelish manicure still looked good after two weeks.

Apparently, LED lamps, which are also used to dry regular nail polish, don't pose the same threat because they don't emit ultraviolet radiation.

Although we got plenty of compliments on our fuchsia-polished Gelish manicure that lasted for nearly three weeks, whether it's done with LED or UV light, we're still uneasy about the whole thing. So this was our first and last gel manicure.

What do you think? Are gel manicures worth the health risk?

Comments

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore. I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued. I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store. And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Soak Up the Last Weeks of Summer Sun At The Rockaway Hotel

Summer is winding down, but there's still time to soak up the sun -- while wearing sunscreen, chic shades and a protective hat or sun visor, of course. If you're in New York City, The Pool at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa is a cool place to swim, lounge and discreetly people watch while swaying to beat of ambient music. It's a vibe! Day passes are available for non-hotel guests Monday through Thursday (excluding private events, 10 am -7 pm). Located in the heart of the Rockaway Beach community in Queens, New York, the Rockaway Hotel is just a few short blocks from the sand and surf. Besides the outdoor pool, the newly built 84,000 square foot hotel offers around 60 guest rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a large event space. And it's a nice addition to the area. When my husband and I visited the popular pool, we enjoyed yummy sips and bites poolside. Lounging chairs are first come, first serve so the early bird gets the spot of their choice. After chilling at t

The Re-Education of NeNe Leakes: The Reality Star Talks About College Hill, What Housewives She's Still Friends With and More

(Tracy E. Hopkins) I’ve been a fan of The Real Housewives of Atlanta since the beginning. So I jumped at the chance to chat with original RHOA cast member and breakout star NeNe Leakes. It’s been a tough couple of years since NeNe parted ways with the show. In 2021 her husband Gregg lost his battle with colon cancer and earlier this year she filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Bravo. But on the brighter side, the 54-year-old is dating again and starring in the BET limited reality series, College Hill: Celebrity Edition. Along with other headline-grabbing reality TV stars including, Big Freedia, Lamar Odom, Stacey Dash and Ray J., NeNe and the members of the cast lived together and attended classes at the historically Black Texas Southern University. We asked NeNe what it was like to go back to school, what the biggest misconception about her is, which housewives she's still friendly with, and more. Everything She Wants : What did it feel

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog