https://phys.org/news/2023-01-uv-emitting-dryers-dna-mutations-cells.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology * * share this! * 4.1K * 201 * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Cell & Microbiology 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Molecular & Computational biology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- January 17, 2023 Study finds that UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells by Katherine Connor, University of California - San Diego In cells, UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations Researchers at UC San Diego studied the UV light-emitting devices used to cure gel manicures, and found that the chronic use of these nail polish drying machines is damaging to human cells. Credit: David Baillot/ UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering The ultraviolet nail polish drying devices used to cure gel manicures may pose more of a public health concern than previously thought. Researchers at the University of California San Diego have studied these ultraviolet (UV) light emitting devices, and found that their use leads to cell death and cancer-causing mutations in human cells. The devices are a common fixture in nail salons, and generally use a particular spectrum of UV light (340-395nm) to cure the chemicals used in gel manicures. While tanning beds use a different spectrum of UV light (280-400nm) that studies have conclusively proven to be carcinogenic, the spectrum used in the nail dryers has not been well studied. "If you look at the way these devices are presented, they are marketed as safe, with nothing to be concerned about," said Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor of bioengineering as well as cellular and molecular medicine at UC San Diego, and corresponding author of the study published in Nature Communications. "But to the best of our knowledge, no one has actually studied these devices and how they affect human cells at the molecular and cellular levels until now." Using three different cell lines--adult human skin keratinocytes, human foreskin fibroblasts, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts--the researchers found that the use of these UV emitting devices for just one 20-minute session led to between 20 and 30 percent cell death, while three consecutive 20-minute exposures caused between 65 and 70 percent of the exposed cells to die. Exposure to the UV light also caused mitochondrial and DNA damage in the remaining cells and resulted in mutations with patterns that can be observed in skin cancer in humans. "We saw multiple things: first, we saw that DNA gets damaged," said Alexandrov. "We also saw that some of the DNA damage does not get repaired over time, and it does lead to mutations after every exposure with a UV-nail polish dryer. Lastly, we saw that exposure may cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which may also result in additional mutations. We looked at patients with skin cancers, and we see the exact same patterns of mutations in these patients that were seen in the irradiated cells." In cells, UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations Maria Zhivagui, a postdoctoral scholar in the Alexandrov Lab and first author of the study, prepares human cells in Petri dishes for exposure to the manicure curing device. Credit: David Baillot/ UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering The researchers caution that while the results show the harmful effects of the repeated use of these devices on human cells, a long-term epidemiological study would be required before stating conclusively that using these machines leads to an increased risk of skin cancers. However, the results of the study were clear: The chronic use of these nail polish drying machines is damaging to human cells. Maria Zhivagui, a postdoctoral scholar in the Alexandrov Lab and first author of the study, used to be a fan of gel manicures herself, but has sworn off the technique after seeing the results. "When I was doing my Ph.D., I started hearing about gel manicures, which last longer than normal polish. I was interested in trying out gel nail polish, particularly in the setting of working in an experimental lab where I frequently put gloves on and off, to maintain a presentable appearance," said Zhivagui. "So I started using gel manicures periodically for several years. Once I saw the effect of radiation emitted by the gel polish drying device on cell death and that it actually mutates cells even after just one 20-minute session, I was surprised. I found this to be very alarming, and decided to stop using it." Studying their effect on human cells The idea to study these particular devices came to Alexandrov in a dentist's office, of all places. As he waited to be seen, he read a magazine article about a young beauty pageant contestant who was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer on her finger. "I thought that was odd, so we began looking into it, and noticed a number of reports in medical journals saying that people who get gel manicures very frequently--like pageant contestants and estheticians--are reporting cases of very rare cancers in the fingers, suggesting that this may be something that causes this type of cancer," said Alexandrov. "And what we saw was that there was zero molecular understanding of what these devices were doing to human cells." In cells, UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations Three cell types were exposed to two different conditions: acute exposure and chronic exposure to the UV light device, pictured here. Credit: David Baillot / UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering To conduct the study, Zhivagui exposed the three cell types to two different conditions: acute exposure and chronic exposure to the UV light device. Under acute exposure, Petri dishes containing one of the cell types were placed in one of these UV curing machines for a 20-minute session. They were then taken out for an hour to repair or return to their steady state, and then given one more 20-minute exposure. Under chronic exposure, the cells were placed under the machine for 20 minutes a day for three days. Cell death, damage and DNA mutations were seen under both conditions, with an elevation of reactive oxygen species molecules--known to cause DNA damage and mutations--and mitochondrial dysfunction in the cells. Genomic profiling revealed higher levels of somatic mutations in the irradiated cells, with patterns of mutations ubiquitously present in melanoma patients. Is the risk worth the reward? This data in human cells, coupled with a number of prior reports of cancers in people who get gel manicures very frequently, paint a picture of a purely cosmetic procedure that is riskier than previously believed. But is getting a gel manicure once a year really cause for concern, or should only those who get this done on a very regular basis be worried? Further studies are needed to quantify any increased risk of cancer and at what frequency of use, but with plenty of alternatives to this cosmetic procedure, the risk may not be worth it to some consumers. "Our experimental results and the prior evidence strongly suggest that radiation emitted by UV-nail polish dryers may cause cancers of the hand and that UV-nail polish dryers, similar to tanning beds, may increase the risk of early-onset skin cancer," they write. "Nevertheless, future large-scale epidemiological studies are warranted to accurately quantify the risk for skin cancer of the hand in people regularly using UV-nail polish dryers. It is likely that such studies will take at least a decade to complete and to subsequently inform the general public." Though other consumer products use UV light in the same spectrum--including the tool used to cure dental fillings and some hair removal treatments--the researchers note that the regularity of use, plus the entirely cosmetic nature of nail dryers, sets them apart. More information: Maria Zhivagui et al, DNA damage and somatic mutations in mammalian cells after irradiation with a nail polish dryer, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35876-8 Journal information: Nature Communications Provided by University of California - San Diego Citation: Study finds that UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells (2023, January 17) retrieved 19 January 2023 from https://phys.org/news/ 2023-01-uv-emitting-dryers-dna-mutations-cells.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Effects of polishes, acrylics and powders on fingernails --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4417 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Evolutionary loss of a ryanodine receptor isoform appears to explain how resting muscles produce heat 6 hours ago 0 Mixing varieties of cotton to produce non-flammable fabrics 7 hours ago 0 3-octanone identified as the toxic agent used by oyster mushrooms to kill prey 7 hours ago 0 Pulsating eclipsing binary AI Hya investigated in detail 8 hours ago 0 Using isotope and ancient DNA analysis to learn more about the mobility of Anatolian and Levantine populations Jan 18, 2023 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Simulations and experiments reveal unprecedented detail about water's motion in salt water 54 minutes ago [gif] New strategy uses ionic liquids to change laser colors with ease 56 minutes ago [gif] New nanoparticles deliver therapy throughout the brain and edit Alzheimer's gene in mice 1 hour ago [gif] Nearly 50-meter laser experiment sets record in university hallway 1 hour ago [gif] Discovery of anti-cancer chemistry makes skullcap plant fit for modern medicine 1 hour ago [gif] Using cancer cells as logic gates to determine what makes them move 1 hour ago [gif] Study reveals key aspect of the finely tuned regulation of gene expression 1 hour ago [gif] Rare opportunity to study short-lived volcanic island reveals sulfur-metabolizing microbes 2 hours ago [gif] Researchers create 2D quantum light source from layered materials 3 hours ago [gif] 12-million-year-old whale fossil skull found in Maryland 3 hours ago * Related Stories [gif] Effects of polishes, acrylics and powders on fingernails Jan 10, 2023 [gif] Mutational signature linking bladder cancer and tobacco smoking found with new AI tool Sep 26, 2022 [gif] UV light may be a greater risk for melanoma than suspected Nov 17, 2020 [gif] Consumer Health: Understanding skin cancer and how to prevent it May 16, 2022 [gif] Four steps for healthier nails Dec 6, 2017 [gif] Rare cancer of immune cells linked to gene mutations in bone marrow and smoking Sep 28, 2021 * Recommended for you [gif] Discovery of anti-cancer chemistry makes skullcap plant fit for modern medicine 1 hour ago [gif] Using cancer cells as logic gates to determine what makes them move 1 hour ago [gif] Study reveals key aspect of the finely tuned regulation of gene expression 1 hour ago [gif] Rare opportunity to study short-lived volcanic island reveals sulfur-metabolizing microbes 2 hours ago [gif] 'Living medicine' created to tackle drug-resistant lung infections 5 hours ago [gif] Methane-generating microbe can grow on toxic sulfite without becoming poisoned 6 hours ago Load comments (13) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Study finds that UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Sponsored Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2023 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use Your Privacy This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Ok Cookie options E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast