UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells • Hacker News Board

Re: UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells

#11

Post by colechristensen » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 12:42 AM UTC

aeadio wrote: post #6

I’m no expert here at all, but I wonder how much this translates to real world risk. It seems like they’re irradiating unprotected cells with a direct blast of UV. How much of that UV actually penetrates the top layers of skin? They’re also subjecting cells to 20+ minutes of continuous exposure, while during a gel manicure typically involves 60-120 seconds of exposure. Obviously we’re not seeing individuals walk out…

Much of your protection from UV radiation comes from the outer layers of dead skin cells. These people put living cells in a Petri dish under a much larger than usual dosage of these lights, serious damage should have been expected, that’s what UV does.

The question is, in vivo, do actual fingers in actual real world usage experience outsized DNA damage compared to moderate sun exposure.

You’re not going to get that answer from cultured cells like that.

If you wanted to do a study explicitly to create sensational headlines, this is how you’d do it. Take a similar situation but modify it so a bad outcome is certain then suggest the much different real world case is similar.

Given case reports of strange cancer in fingers further study is interesting, but I wouldn’t go around trying to make fans of fancy nails panic quite yet. (Who knows, some of the solvents and miscellaneous substances may be the culprit more than UV)

Re: UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells

#12

Post by loa_in_ » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 1:36 AM UTC

LarryMullins wrote: post #8

The beauty industry is one of the most reckless and and capriciously hazardous consumer-facing industries there is. Online retailers are filled with insanely dangerous beauty products, like high power lasers that don't even come with safety googles. Many of their chemical products are unproven at best, often outright hazardous to use at all without a fume hood. Parasites and synthetic stimulants sold as weight loss p…

Even best tested chemicals are tested for their effects for what, 6-months? If something takes longer to damage, or damages only few, you're going to potential pay the real price.

Not unlike fake UV protection fitted glasses, that not only don't filter out the radiation, they're dimming enough to make your eyes allow more of it in the result.

Re: UV-emitting nail polish dryers damage DNA and cause mutations in cells

#13

Post by artificialidiot » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 8:18 AM UTC

aeadio wrote: post #6

I’m no expert here at all, but I wonder how much this translates to real world risk. It seems like they’re irradiating unprotected cells with a direct blast of UV. How much of that UV actually penetrates the top layers of skin? They’re also subjecting cells to 20+ minutes of continuous exposure, while during a gel manicure typically involves 60-120 seconds of exposure. Obviously we’re not seeing individuals walk out…

They emit UVA which has less energy and body has better defenses for it, but it is not as readily blocked as UVB or UVC, although some would imagine the resin and pigments for this application are designed to absorb UVA more.

I think most risk has to do with manufacturers' lax attitude for safety and consumer expectations and impatience.

Not that it is a particularly healthy thing to radiate oneself with UV but what is life without some color.