Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has become increasingly common in many nail salons, leaving clients to wonder about the risks of skin cancer while doing their manicures. Usually, these lamps are used to dry regular manicures at high speed and are needed to fix gel manicures. Some nail lamps are called “UV lamps” and others are called LED lamps, but both emit UV radiation. The majority of UV lamps emit UVA rays, which have been linked to premature skin aging and skin cancer.
However, even the most intense devices present only a moderate risk of UV radiation, a much lower risk than that posed by UV tanning devices. In general, exposure to the sun is limited to the UV-A region, since the Earth's atmosphere protects us from the most damaging regions of UV-C and UV-B rays. Exposure to a high dose or a prolonged low dose of radiation from some UVC lamps may contribute to effects such as cataracts or skin cancer caused by cumulative exposure to UVB radiation. Limiting exposure time and using sunscreen lotions are two simple and effective methods to control overexposure to UV radiation. UV curing is a rapid curing process in which high-intensity ultraviolet light is used to create a photochemical reaction that instantly cures inks, adhesives and coatings. Specialized UV gas discharge lamps containing different gases produce UV radiation in certain spectral lines for scientific purposes.
Small high-pressure lamps can focus light and transmit it to the work area through light guides filled with liquid or fiber optics. Colorless fluorescent dyes, which emit blue light under UV rays, are added as optical brighteners to paper and fabrics. People who may be exposed to artificial sources of UV rays at work should follow appropriate safety precautions, such as the use of protective clothing and filters and protectors against UV rays. Black light fluorescent lamps work in a similar way to other fluorescent lamps, but they use a phosphor on the inner surface of the tube that emits UV-A radiation instead of visible light. Because of its blackbody spectrum, a filament bulb is a very inefficient ultraviolet source, emitting only a fraction of one percent of its energy in the form of UV rays. A deuterium arc lamp (or simply deuterium lamp) is a low-pressure gas-discharge light source that is often used in spectroscopy when a continuous spectrum is needed in the UV region. Comprehensive face shields are the only adequate protection when working with UV light boxes for more than a few seconds.
Other artificial UV sources include solid-state light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and lasers. The WHO standard ultraviolet index is a widely publicized measure of the total intensity of the wavelengths of UV rays that cause sunburn on human skin. UV transilluminators or UV light boxes are used in biotechnology for the visualization of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) after gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. Because the ozone layer prevents many UV frequencies from reaching telescopes located on the Earth's surface, most UV observations are made from space. If you do your manicure regularly, the safest thing to do is to let your nails air dry naturally, preventing the lamps from completely drying out, or use an air blower or fan without UV lights.
Electronic components that require clear transparency for light to enter or exit (photovoltaic panels and sensors) can be encapsulated with acrylic resins that cure with UV energy. In conclusion, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from nail lamps. Limiting exposure time and using sunscreen lotions are two simple and effective methods to control overexposure to UV radiation.