Still, “the data is mounting that UV radiation emitted by nail lamps could be potentially dangerous,” Dr. Adigun said.
The powder alternative
One alternative is the dip powder manicure, which is also long-lasting and involves dunking nails into acrylic powder after applying an adhesive. A dip manicure typically does not require a UV lamp, but some stylists might add an extra gel coating at the end so that the manicure lasts longer — in which case a UV lamp would be used, said Dr. Lyndsay Shipp, a dermatologist based in Oxford, Miss.
There’s one concern with dip manicures, though: Stylists often use the same jar of acrylic powder for multiple customers, which increases the possibility that the powder could harbor germs that cause nail infections, Dr. Adigun said.
But Dr. Adigun, who has specialized in nail disorders for over 16 years, said that she had never heard of anyone getting a nail infection from a dip manicure. And the acetone that stylists often use to remove nail polish at the beginning of a manicure acts as a disinfectant, Dr. Shipp said, cleaning the nail and reducing the chances of contamination.
The risk of getting an infection from a dip manicure is “incredibly rare,” Dr. Shipp said.
Safety tips for your next manicure
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to minimize health risks the next time you visit the salon.
If you’re getting a gel manicure, consider wearing fingerless UV protective gloves, Dr. Adigun said. (She did not recommend using sunscreen, as sunscreens have been shown to protect against UV exposure only from the sun, not from UV lamps, she said.)
To reduce your risk of infection, Dr. Adigun suggested asking your stylist not to push back or remove your cuticles, which provide an important barrier against germs. Many people blame post-salon infections on contaminated equipment, she said, when it’s more likely that their own germs infected the nails after their cuticles were removed.
