美国国家公共电台 NPR--UV nail dryers may pose cancer risks, a study says. Here are precautions you can take

UV nail dryers² may pose cancer risks, a study says. Here are precautions you can take

Transcript³

If you've ever opted⁵ for gel polish at the salon⁶, you're probably used to drying your nails beneath a UV lamp. And perhaps you've found yourself waiting and wondering: How safe are these?

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and the University of Pittsburgh had the same question. They set out to test the UV-emitting devices using cell lines from humans and mice and published their findings last week in the journal Nature Communications.

They found that chronic⁷ use of the machines can damage DNA⁸ and cause mutations in human cells that could increase the risk of skin cancer. But, they caution, more data is needed before being able to state that conclusively⁹.

"Future large-scale epidemiological studies are warranted to accurately¹⁰ quantify the risk for skin cancer of the hand in people regularly using UV-nail polish dryers," the study says. "It is likely that such studies will take at least a decade to complete and to subsequently inform the general public."

Maria Zhivagui, a postdoctoral researcher at UC San Diego and the first author of the study, told NPR in a phone interview that she was alarmed by the strength of the results — especially because she was in the habit of getting gel manicures every two to three weeks.

"When I saw these results, I decided¹² to kind of put a hold on it and just mitigate¹³ as much as possible my exposure to these risk factors," Zhivagui said, adding that she — like many other regulars — even has a UV dryer¹ at home, but now can't foresee using it for anything other than maybe drying glue.

The study confirms concerns about UV dryers that the dermatology community has had for several years, says Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist¹⁴ and director of the Nail Division at Weill Cornell Medicine.

In fact, she says, many dermatologists¹⁵ were already in the habit of advising gel regulars to protect their skin with sunscreen and fingerless gloves.

"I think even before the study, that was the way to go," Lipner told NPR. "And in light of the study, I think it should convince people even more to use caution."

Zhivagui's team decided to pursue this research for several reasons, she explained.

Over the years there have been sporadic¹⁶ cases of frequent gel polish users — like beauty pageant¹⁷ contestants¹⁸ — reporting rare cancers on their nails and fingers, which some dermatologists attributed to UV exposure (Lipner says the few studies on this have been mixed).

Plus, the UV devices are widely marketed as safe (even by the FDA), but she was unable to find any studies that actually investigated their effect on cells to confirm that.

"We wanted to devise this study and design it in order to ... address questions about the potential harms of these artificial UV lamps," says Zhivagui, who focuses on public health and cancer prevention research.

The researchers tested three different cell types, two from humans and one from mice, with various levels of exposure.

Under acute exposure, the petri dishes were placed in a UV machine for 20 minutes, then taken out for an hour and placed back in for another 20 minutes. Under chronic exposure, they were placed under the machine for 20 minutes a day for three days.

Researchers found that a single 20-minute session resulted in 20-30% cell death, while three consecutive²⁰ sessions caused 65-70% of the exposed cells to die. UV exposure also caused mitochondrial and DNA damage in the remaining cells.

Zhivagui notes that nail salons²¹ typically have UV devices that are more potent¹⁹ than the one used in the study, meaning that even if they are used for less time in the salon than in the lab, the energy of the exposure could be higher.

The study shows that repeated exposure to UV light has a damaging effect on human cells. But it can't conclusively link it to an increased risk of skin cancers — though it does cite prior studies that link gene¹¹ mutations to an increase in cancer risk.

There are limits to what one study can show. Lipner points out it would be unethical to replicate²² it with actual humans, if there's any risk volunteers could develop skin cancer.

"So sometimes cell line studies, even though they're not exactly what's happening in the human, [are] kind of our best shot to see what's going on," Lipner says.

Both she and Zhivagui say large-scale epidemiological studies are needed. That could involve following many regular gel polish users over the years and then running analyses on anyone who does get sick.

There's a lot we don't yet know

The study found that a single 20-minute session resulted in 20-30% cell death, while three consecutive sessions caused 65-70% of the exposed cells to die.

UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering

Gel manicures are relatively²³ new, and DNA damage often takes time to build up — so it's entirely²⁴ possible that more skin cancer cases associated with UV dryers will emerge in the coming years, Lipner says.

"And so what I would recommend is that people who have a long history or regular history of doing the gel nails ... every few weeks for years, they should partner with a board certified²⁵ dermatologist who can check their skin regularly looking for early signs of skin cancer," Lipner says.

While people may be used to monitoring their moles²⁶ for signs of melanoma, Lipner stresses that the type of skin cancer linked to UV dryers is actually another form known as squamous cell carcinoma, which looks very different and is noticeably rough to the touch.

"In lighter²⁷ patients, it could look more pink or red," she says. "In people with darker skin types it may look more purple to brown."

Zhivagui notes that certain people are at higher risk of skin cancer, like older people or those with fair skin or red hair.

And the FDA, which does classify UV lamps as "low risk when used as directed," says you may want to avoid UV lamps if you take certain medications or supplements that can make you more sensitive to UV rays, including some antibiotics²⁸ and oral contraceptives.

Lipner says without data, it's impossible to say how much UV exposure is too much — but less is better.

"I would say, in general, look for alternative ways to do manicures," she says. "If you are going to get a gel manicure, use sunscreen and fingerless gloves; that will certainly add a ton of protection. And maybe if you're going once a month, you can limit that to a few times a year."

She adds that there's another reason people may not want to get gel polish: The acetone needed to remove it has been shown to thin out and weaken nails, which is both a cosmetic²⁹ issue and a functional³⁰ one.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself during gel manicures and pedicures — as well as alternatives to them.

The FDA advises limiting dryer use to 10 minutes per hand and removing cosmetics³¹, fragrances³² and skin care products in advance, since some of those products can increase your sensitivity to UV rays. The one major exception is sunscreen.

Experts recommend applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your hands about 20 minutes before they are exposed to UV light. Lipner says people should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, and make sure they cover the tops of their hands, feet, fingers and toes as needed.

And, perhaps surprisingly, she says there's no need to worry about covering your nails, as studies have shown nails are "practically impermeable³³" to UV light.

That's why experts also suggest investing in a pair of fingerless, UV-absorbing globes that leave only your nails exposed.

And you'd rather not spend any (or at least as much) time under UV dryers, there are some nail polish alternatives to consider.

Some brands make long-lasting, fast-drying gel polish that don't need to be cured by UV light. You can also opt⁴ for dip powders, which are applied³⁴ directly to the nail, air dry and can last for several weeks (though they typically cost more than gel).

And don't forget about good, old-fashioned regular nail polish, which will harden and eventually dry without any UV light. The Skin Cancer Foundation says the safest bet is to use an air blower or fan for your regular manicure, or let them air dry without any tools at all.

1 dryer   

n.干衣机，干燥剂

参考例句：

• He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
• There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。

2 dryers   

n.干燥机( dryer的名词复数 )；干燥器；干燥剂；干燥工

参考例句：

• Men also have hair dryers and, if they suffer from baldness, they use a growth stimulator, buy hairpieces, or have hair transplanted from the hirsute part of the scalp to the bare areas. 男士也有他们的吹风机，而且如果他们秃顶的话，还会用毛发生长剂、买假发，或者把头发从密集的地方移植到谢顶的地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dryers can be automated. 干燥机可以自动化作业。 来自辞典例句

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

5 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

6 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

7 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

8 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

9 conclusively   

adv.令人信服地，确凿地

参考例句：

• All this proves conclusively that she couldn't have known the truth. 这一切无可置疑地证明她不可能知道真相。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• From the facts,he was able to determine conclusively that the death was not a suicide. 根据这些事实他断定这起死亡事件并非自杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

11 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

14 dermatologist   

n.皮肤科医师

参考例句：

• I think you should see a dermatologist first.我想你应当先看皮肤科大夫。
• The general practitioner referred her patient to a dermatologist.家庭医生把她的病人交给了皮肤科医生。

15 dermatologists   

n.皮肤病学家( dermatologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Today dermatologists agree that the experiments were not conducted well. 今天，皮肤病学者承认，当时的实验操作上有误。 来自互联网
• Dermatologists consistently recommend the low-cost old favorites, but of good-quality. 皮肤学家一致推荐物美价廉的老品牌。 来自互联网

16 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

17 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

18 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 potent   

adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的

参考例句：

• The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。
• We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。

20 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

21 salons   

n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅

参考例句：

• He used to attend to his literary salons. 他过去常常去参加他的文学沙龙。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Conspiracy theories about Jewish financiers were the talk of Paris salons. 犹太金融家阴谋论成为巴黎沙龙的话题。 来自互联网

22 replicate   

v.折叠，复制，模写；n.同样的样品；adj.转折的

参考例句：

• The DNA of chromatin must replicate before cell division.染色质DNA在细胞分裂之前必须复制。
• It is also easy to replicate,as the next subsection explains.就像下一个小节详细说明的那样，它还可以被轻易的复制。

23 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

24 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

25 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

26 moles   

防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍

参考例句：

• Unsightly moles can be removed surgically. 不雅观的痣可以手术去除。
• Two moles of epoxy react with one mole of A-1100. 两个克分子环氧与一个克分子A－1100反应。

27 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

28 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

29 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

30 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

31 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

32 fragrances   

n.芳香，香味( fragrance的名词复数 )；香水

参考例句：

• The bath oil comes in various fragrances. 这种沐浴油有不同的香味。
• This toilet soap lathers so nicely and has several fragrances. 这种香皂起泡很多，并且有好几种香味。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

33 impermeable   

adj.不能透过的，不渗透的

参考例句：

• The canoe is made from an impermeable wood.独木舟由防水木头制成。
• The external layer of the skin is relatively impermeable to water.皮肤的外层不透水。

34 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。