Doctors Warn About Potential Dangers Of Gel Manicures

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Love the staying power of a gel manicure?

You might want to be careful about how frequently you're getting them.

Dermatologists say the popular manicure could lead to skin cancer.

While the polish itself isn't the problem, the way the nails are dried – using ultra-violet light – is.

"It is actually damaging the skin causing aging, pre skin cancer, skin cancer kind of changes," Dr. Elaine Cook told CBS Dallas-Fort Worth.

If your salon offers the option, doctors recommend using LED drying lights. You can also apply sunscreen to your hands before you go to the salon.

Aside from the cancer risk, there's also another side effect of frequent gel manicures: the UV light can make your nails brittle and prone to breaking.