Personally, I loathe the little hand dryers at nail salons because I see them as a breeding area for germs. But most of the time, I’ll suck it up in an effort to keep my brand-new manicure chip-free. If I’m going to spend upwards of $10 for polish, then I’d like it to be perfect. Now, however, I’m going to think twice about my post-manicure plans, because those little hand dryers are actually full of UV rays! Dermatologist Neal Schultz wants women (and men) to be aware of the damage they’re doing to their fingers by sitting under the salon dryers for anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. “Reports of unusual numbers of skin cancers on the fingers of frequent users are compelling reasons to avoid them until controlled studies can demonstrate safe parameters for their use (if they even exist),” he said. So, I’ll be staying away from those little tanning beds for your hands from now on. Solution? Fan dryers are a safe option, or if those aren’t available at your local salon, simply sit sans dryer until your wet polish turns hard, like they did in the good ol’ days. [Glamour]
