What Are the Dangers of Ultraviolet Radiation?
According to the American Cancer Society, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the leading “risk factor for most skin cancers.” This is because prolonged exposure to UV rays actually damages skin cell DNA. Specifically, the genes controlling cell growth. And out of control cell growth is what causes all cancers.
The three main types of UV rays are UVA, UVB, and UVC. We’re mainly concerned with the first two, as UVC rarely cause cancer.
Researchers believe that UVA rays cause long-term damage in the form of wrinkles and discoloration (often referred to as age spots). Other effects include loss of elasticity and changes to skin texture, such as rough patches. These reactions are known as photoaging.
UVB radiation is the main cause of sunburn, which significantly raises your risk for a variety of skin cancers. However, UVA radiation also increases skin cancer risk. This is particularly true in cases of cumulative damage.
Gel Manicures and UVA Radiation
A gel manicure ends with the client placing their hands under a UV lamp. These lamps emit UVA light, which dries the polish quickly, helps it adhere to the nail, and produces a bright shine.
Although this light bath only lasts around 10 minutes, the lamp emits rays much stronger than those emitted by the sun. Around four times stronger, in fact. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) warns that this increases the risk of both photoaging and skin cancer. This is particularly true after repeat exposure. You know, the kind you get with regular gel manicures.
How Pink Polish Nails Bar Protects You Against UV Radiation
The AAD recommends sunscreen to protect your hands (and other body parts) against UVA rays. This is particularly true for people with photosensitive skin or who take medications that increase skin sensitivity to UV light.
Of course, if you’ve had a manicure, you recognize that advice as unhelpful. Anything applied before your manicure is washed away during the treatment. And to be effective, sunscreen must be applied at least 15 minutes before exposure to UV light.
The staff at Pink Polish is devoted to ensuring your health and safety. That’s why we provide disposable UV light protection gloves to protect the skin on your hands from UV damage. With these amazing gloves, only your fingertips are exposed to UVA rays. Our UV-protection gloves are hygienic, non-allergenic, and block of 99 percent of UV rays.
Skin Cancer Signs in Your Hands
Although you should see your dermatologist at least once a year, you should also regularly check your body for signs of skin cancer of sun damage. After all, nobody knows your body as well as you do.
If anything seems “off,” schedule an appointment with your dermatologist right away. Signs to look for include:
- Reddish sores on your hands that don’t seem to heal
- Scaly patches or growths on the hands or fingers
- A pigmented streak on your fingernail
Of course, you can get skin cancer anywhere. The Melanoma Research Foundation offers a terrific Melanoma Prevention guide. Detecting skin cancer early could literally save your life.
Come Experience the Pink Polish Difference
At Pink Polish Nails Bar, we believe that cleanliness is a key component to your comfort. We’re the only salon in Gilbert offering disposable UV light protection gloves. We bring that same level of safety to all of our services, including disposable pedicure jets and discarding all liners, files, and buffers after use. Call (480) 930-7227 to schedule an appointment today.