A new independent, peer-reviewed study found that UV (ultraviolet) lamps commonly used for hardening gel nail polish are safe and do not increase the risk of developing skin cancer. The Professional Beauty Association’s (PBA) Nail Manufacturers Council on Safety (NMC) welcomed the news and recently announced its support for the study.
The study, published in the Spring 2013 issue of Photochemistry and Photobiology, supports recent findings published by scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, as well as studies conducted by an independent laboratory testing company, Lighting Science, Inc., disproving misleading Internet stories and media coverage suggesting such lamps may be unsafe. "With this latest article adding to available extensive research, consumers should not be concerned about developing cancer from using UV nail lamps,” said Doug Schoon, NMC Safety co-chair. “Multiple prominent sources have dispelled the exaggerated claims that these lamps are harmful. In reality, the UV exposure created by nail lamps is very minimal."