MIAMI VALLEY -- Gel manicures, also known as shellac, have grown in popularity in recent years, but experts say it comes with a risk.
If you just type in "gel manicures" into Google, you may find several stories talking about a "potential cancer" risk and "the ugly truth about gel manicures."
We asked dermatologist Matthew Bakos where the danger comes from, and the answer is the UV light used to cure or dry the shellac.
"Any time you expose yourself to radiation, ultraviolet or otherwise, there's certainly going to be an increased risk and over time it certainly may be accumulative," Bakos said.
It's the same harmful radiation found in tanning beds. We've heard over the years just how dangerous tanning can be and how it can cause all types of skin cancer. Experts say using these UV lights for the manicures poses the same risk.
"Not only would it increase your risk for skin cancer but repeated exposure to these ultraviolet light sources may increase your risk for brown spots, wrinkles and other signs of chronic sun damage," Bakos said.
Kristin Schoumacher felt the effects of too much exposure to UV rays in tanning beds.
"The "C" word, it was like OK, I have cancer, what's going on here," said Schoumacher.
Her stomach is now riddled with scars after her battle with stage two melanoma.
"It kind of laid out the rest of my life, that melanoma is not like breast cancer," she said, "But it's the type of cancer that can return at any time to any one of my organs."
And that's something Kristin lives with every day, the fear that she might not see her three kids grow up.
"My kids have to live with it," she said. "My kids, now they'll get questioned, 'well do you know anyone with cancer?,' 'Yeah my mom,' it's like what, you shouldn't have to say that, it was my fault for tanning and now this could effect you."
Since UV light can be dangerous, are these gel manicures putting you more at risk?
"This risk is much, much lower than we originally thought. The risk is not insignificant, but it is really, really small," Bakos said.
Bakos says you're exposed to the harmful rays for a much shorter period of time than tanning beds. He also says the light strength is much lower.
But for some the risk is still substantial.
People who have fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair, red hair, certainly are at an increased risk for skin cancer, as well as sun damage from any type of light source, Bakos said, and therefore they should be cautious on doing that type of treatment.
While some should be cautious, others are still willing to gamble with their health.
"I wouldn't think about it and I don't think it would be that much of a risk," said Diana Morris. "I personally would probably just go ahead and get it done anyway. Being a woman and all, it's the price of beauty."
If you're worried about the exposure, you can put sunscreen on your hands or cut the tips out of gloves so only your nails are exposed.
If you just type in "gel manicures" into Google, you may find several stories talking about a "potential cancer" risk and "the ugly truth about gel manicures."
We asked dermatologist Matthew Bakos where the danger comes from, and the answer is the UV light used to cure or dry the shellac.
"Any time you expose yourself to radiation, ultraviolet or otherwise, there's certainly going to be an increased risk and over time it certainly may be accumulative," Bakos said.
It's the same harmful radiation found in tanning beds. We've heard over the years just how dangerous tanning can be and how it can cause all types of skin cancer. Experts say using these UV lights for the manicures poses the same risk.
"Not only would it increase your risk for skin cancer but repeated exposure to these ultraviolet light sources may increase your risk for brown spots, wrinkles and other signs of chronic sun damage," Bakos said.
Kristin Schoumacher felt the effects of too much exposure to UV rays in tanning beds.
"The "C" word, it was like OK, I have cancer, what's going on here," said Schoumacher.
Her stomach is now riddled with scars after her battle with stage two melanoma.
"It kind of laid out the rest of my life, that melanoma is not like breast cancer," she said, "But it's the type of cancer that can return at any time to any one of my organs."
And that's something Kristin lives with every day, the fear that she might not see her three kids grow up.
"My kids have to live with it," she said. "My kids, now they'll get questioned, 'well do you know anyone with cancer?,' 'Yeah my mom,' it's like what, you shouldn't have to say that, it was my fault for tanning and now this could effect you."
Since UV light can be dangerous, are these gel manicures putting you more at risk?
"This risk is much, much lower than we originally thought. The risk is not insignificant, but it is really, really small," Bakos said.
Bakos says you're exposed to the harmful rays for a much shorter period of time than tanning beds. He also says the light strength is much lower.
But for some the risk is still substantial.
People who have fair skin, blue eyes, blonde hair, red hair, certainly are at an increased risk for skin cancer, as well as sun damage from any type of light source, Bakos said, and therefore they should be cautious on doing that type of treatment.
While some should be cautious, others are still willing to gamble with their health.
"I wouldn't think about it and I don't think it would be that much of a risk," said Diana Morris. "I personally would probably just go ahead and get it done anyway. Being a woman and all, it's the price of beauty."
If you're worried about the exposure, you can put sunscreen on your hands or cut the tips out of gloves so only your nails are exposed.
