Have you ever got your nails done during a manicure and began thinking, “I wonder how much UV my hands are getting under this UV lamp?”. This is an understandable concern and something to take note of. However, with proper UV balance, sun screen (if needed), and UV protection gloves now being on the market, this should no longer be a major concern. Join us as we look into UV exposure, your skin and UV protection gloves.
What is UV and how much is actually needed? ...yes needed. UV is ultraviolet, violet is the color of light being in the highest frequency of visible light, it’s that fuzzy looking violet color that your eyes must squint to see before it disappears into the invisible spectrum. Ultraviolet is one step above this and contains various degrees of wavelength energy such as UVA, UVB, extreme, etc. With most things its safety depends on how much we are exposed to. Our atmosphere blocks out 77% of the UV spectrum and thick clouds even more. Our bodies produce vitamin D from ultraviolet naturally. It is recommended that we get at least 1,000 to 2,000 IU’s per day which can be done in pill form or natural sunlight of UVB light (skin transfers 500 to 1,000 IU per minute under UVB exposure). It is also recommended to get 10 to 15 minutes of UV exposure two to three times a week to produce enough vitamin D to stay healthy. Anything above this has a potential to cause minor harm. UV rays should be absorbed through the legs and arms and not your face (always use sunscreen on your face) as facial skin does little to convert UV energy to vitamin D.
As a side note UV can also be great for sanitation and is actually needed for cleaning nail tools and medical equipment. Advanced and expensive water and air systems have UV lights which kill small bacteria and various harmful organic matter.
So what does the Skin Cancer Foundation have to say about UV nail lamps: “…Some nail lamps are called “UV” lamps, and some are called LED lamps, but both emit UV radiation. They predominantly produce UVA rays, which have been linked to both premature skin aging and skin cancer. However, even the most intense of these devices presents only a moderate UV risk – a far lower risk than that presented by UV tanning devices. To play it safe with gel manicures, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen to hands 20 minutes prior to UV light exposure…”
And what does Chris Adigun, MD from WebMD have to say on the subject: “…I wouldn't spend time worrying about the UV exposure from these lamps," she says. "The risk of malignant cancer due to nail lamp exposure is extremely low."
If you have a high sensitivity to UV light, you feel you’ve recently received a fair
amount of UV, or your doctor recommends you stay out of UV light then we suggest giving dipping powder a try as it does not require any UV lamp for hardening. However, if you still desire shellac or regular color nails then we recommend using a sunscreen on your hands and/or use of our UV protectant gloves during your manicure. We supply and offer sunscreen lotion and UV protect gloves during your session if you so desire. As we currently know of, no other nail salon in San Antonio is offering UV protectant gloves as an option.