Most people know that they need to take precautions to protect their skin and hair from the sun’s damaging rays by covering up with clothing or wearing a hat – but what about our nails? Many people are unaware that the sun can be damaging to our nails as well.
Why Sun Exposure is Bad For Your Nails
Too much exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can cause nails to become brittle and easy to break over time. Over exposure to sun can also cause damage to the nail’s growth center – the white part at the base of the nail – which can affect the nail’s ability to regrow and can cause lasting damage to the appearance and health of the nail. The cuticle surrounding the nail is also sensitive to deterioration caused by UV damage and should be protected.
How To Protect Your Nails From the Sun
A fun and fashionable way to protect your nails from exposure to the sun is by getting a manicure and pedicure as all nail polishes provide some form of protection against UV rays. This is because nail polishes contain ingredients whose purpose is to keep the color of the polish from fading in the sun. If you want to be absolutely certain that your nail polish is protecting your nails against harmful rays, consider applying a top coat that is specifically labeled that it provides filters to protect from UV rays.
If you don’t want to paint your nails or don’t have time for a manicure before you know you will be spending time in the sun, applying a layer of sunscreen to your nails and cuticles can also offer protection from the effects of sun damage. Only put sunscreen on unpainted nails, though – sunscreen can ruin nail polish.
As with your skin, covering up is also always an option for protecting your nails from the sun. A nice pair of fashionable gloves will do the trick.
UV Rays at the Nail Salon
The drying lamps used by nail salons to dry freshly polished nails quickly and to set gel manicures emit UV rays. This has caused some controversy over the safety of using these machines, as consistent exposure to UV rays is known to cause skin cancer and premature aging of skin. While there are no studies that directly link the use of nail salon drying lamps to known occurrences of skin cancer, to play it safe The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends avoiding them altogether and allowing manicures to air dry naturally instead. For gel manicures that require time under the drying lamp in order to set, it is recommended that sunscreen be applied to the hands at least twenty minutes prior to when the drying lamp will be used. There are also commercial gloves available specifically for use with nail drying lamps. These gloves cover the hands and wrists while leaving the nails uncovered, thus reducing the amount of skin that is exposed to the UV light. These gloves can be purchased from Amazon and other online retailers.
To Sum It Up
The easy and fashionable way to protect your nails from becoming damaged from sun exposure is simply by keeping them painted with a top coat that is labeled to have added UV filters for sun protection. Just remember to be cautious about using a drying lamp when going to the nail salon, though there is no definitive proof that UV drying lamps cause skin cancer, it is always best to err on the side of caution.
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