Semi-permanent varnishes: warning against risks, including cancer, associated with heating lamps

The National Academy of Medicine warned this Wednesday of the possible risks of heat lamps that can cause skin cancer and that are used for the application of semi-permanent nail polish, a very popular aesthetic treatment for ten years.

Le vernis semi-permanent, which lasts from two to three weeks without s’écailler against those quelques days seulement pour le vernis classique, est le plus souvent appliqué dans des ongleries, des instituts de soins spécialisés dans les manucures et qui ont essaimé en France depuis some years.

“However, its application requires the use of a lamp that combines UV (at least 48 watts) and light-emitting diode (LED) to dry and fix” the varnish layers, notes the Academy of Medicine.

“However, these lamps emit type A UV rays (UVA) that penetrate deep into the skin and are known to promote aging but especially the development of skin cancers,” he adds.

Need for more studies on the subject.

In support of its statements, the Academy cites a study published in 2022 in a small specialized journal, Clinics in Dermatology, which lists some cancer cases associated with the use of this type of varnish in previous years. However, the Academy recognizes the need for large-scale epidemiological studies, which it requires, to more accurately assess risk.

This “seems mainly linked to three factors”, develops the Academy, which cites the young age of initiation of use (an average of 20 years), the frequency of closure (5 to 6 times a year) and exposure for several years. . “The cumulative effect of UVA exposures represents a significant risk” and “may be exacerbated by terrain,” meaning the client’s fair skin and immunosuppression.

For this reason, the Academy recommends the application of sunscreen on the hands 20 minutes before exposing the hands to UV/LED lamps, a census of the number of heat lamps sold each year “in order to estimate the evolution of the market” and the obligation to attach a written alert and recommendation message to each device.

He also wants information campaigns for the general public and professionals to be developed, highlighting the risk of “a continuous application of semi-permanent varnishes throughout the year, particularly among people with light skin types.”