According to a recent study published in Nature Newsletter, the UV nail polish drying equipment used to cure gel nails may cause more public health problems than previously thought. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego in the United States studied these ultraviolet luminescent devices and found that their use can lead to cell death and carcinogenic mutations in human cells.

This device is a common device in nail salons, which usually uses a specific ultraviolet spectrum (340-395nm) to cure the chemicals used in gel nail enhancement. Research has confirmed that the ultraviolet spectrum (280-400 nanometers) used in sunbeds is carcinogenic, but the spectrum used in nail dryers has not been thoroughly studied before.

This time, researchers used three different cell lines - adult epidermal keratinocytes, human foreskin fibroblasts, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The results showed that using this UV emitting device only once for 20 minutes resulted in 20% to 30% of exposed cell death, while three consecutive 20 minute uses resulted in 65% to 70% of exposed cell death. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can also cause damage to the mitochondria and DNA of remaining cells, leading to mutations, a pattern that can be observed in human skin cancer.

In summary, cell death, damage, and DNA mutations were observed in both cases, as well as an increase in reactive oxygen species (known to cause DNA damage and mutations) in cells and mitochondrial dysfunction in cells. Genomic analysis shows that the level of somatic mutations in irradiated cells is higher, and this mutation pattern is commonly present in melanoma patients. Researchers warn that long-term use of these nail polish dryers may be harmful to human cells.