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

It's the end of an era. Conway discount stores are closing . 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 New York City, 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 white checkered pants with a matching lime green

Memorial Day Weekend 2023 Cultural Highlight: DanceAfrica Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Throughout Brooklyn

In her essay, " African Dance is Medicine for the Mind, Body and Spirit ," dancer, teacher and choreographer Cherie Hill wrote, "The more I perform African dance, the more I discover and enjoy euphoria. When the drums are beating and the body is dancing everything fits in sync and I feel limitless and powerful." Photo by Nate Palmer Hill is honored with a portrait by Cecilia Lamptey-Botchway that's on display at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House during the annual DanceAfrica Festival . The festival celebrates Black joy and resilience and the regal power of African dance. I mark my calendar each year for the DanceAfrica Bazaar, where I often run into old friends and see familiar faces. In a Brooklyn that has quickly become gentrified, I love to see us walking tall, beaming with pride and to quote Bey, "shining, shining, shining, y

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

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog