Pointing out that some procedures that have become popular in recent years may have carcinogenic effects in the future, physicians warn against losing health for the sake of beauty.
Beautiful photos, perfect lines and faces… The number of people who want to look perfect is increasing every day. Social media is overflowing with shared frames.
Sometimes health is put into the second plan for the sake of looking beautiful. For example, the skin. Hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands, lymph circulation, hair, nails and nerves, the skin, which is part of a holistic system, plays a vital role while wrapping the body, but sometimes human beings sometimes use it poorly.
Various processes that come into contact with the skin, which is described as the largest organ of the body, are critical.
Scientists, who have mentioned the risks of solarium in many studies, also draw attention to permanent nail polish, which is a popular application of recent years. The fact that the ultraviolet rays of the devices used to dry these nail polishes can be harmful is brought up by experts.
In an article published in Nature Communications on 17 January, human and mouse cell cultures were exposed to ultraviolet rays in the laboratory. The results of the study showed that the cells were affected, mutations occurred and their structures were disrupted.
Although there is not so much interest in Europe, there is great interest in countries such as the USA, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey.
In fact, in Turkey, it is possible to see “nail art” studios where permanent nail polish is done on almost every corner, beauty centres or various salons that perform permanent eyebrow or lip colouring procedures or have solarium devices. In some neighbourhoods, the number is multiplying.
Lale Elmacıoğlu from Independent Turkish spoke to Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay and Prof. Dr. Güner Sönmez about the possible risks of these procedures such as solarium, permanent nail polish or permanent eyeliner, eyebrow or lip colouring, which are performed for the sake of looking beautiful, and the dangers that individuals may face in the future.
Drawing attention to the risks of solarium, Kutlubay and Sönmez warned that ultraviolet rays emitted during the drying of permanent nail polish may increase the risk of cancer.
Experts recommended the use of natural methods and noted that exposure to toxic substances should be reduced.
“I do not recommend permanent operations”
Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Dermatology Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Zekayi Kutlubay said that he does not recommend permanent procedures.
Referring to the risks of disruption of cell structure and mutation in DNA in the study in Nature, Prof. Dr. Kutlubay warned that the rays emitted by the devices used in drying permanent nail polishes may pose a risk.
Stating that ultraviolet, that is, a different wavelength of sunlight, is used in these devices, Kutlubay also stated that the nails do not breathe, deterioration in their structure, detachment from the tip or rapid breakage, colour changes and fungus, crumbling like flour may occur.
Kutlubay stated that patients who use nail prosthesis also deteriorate their own nail structures after removing them, and added that the number of patients with similar complaints has increased.
“The risk of skin cancer increases in those who enter the solarium more than 10 times a year after 10-20 years”
Another application preferred especially by young and middle-aged people for the sake of looking beautiful is to enter the solarium.
In every province of Turkey, it is possible to see solarium centres or solarium devices in different halls in almost every district.
Underlining that solarium is also a source of ultraviolet, Kutlubay emphasised that according to various studies, the rate of skin cancer in those who enter the solarium more than 10 times a year increases and said, “The risk of skin cancer increases in these people after 10-20 years.”
“We do not find it right to introduce artificial things into the skin from outside”
Prof. Dr. Kutlubay also mentioned what kind of risks the applications defined as permanent colouring procedures have in terms of health and especially whether they will cause cancer:
“There is no information that applications such as eyeliner on the eyes, eyebrow and lip colouring by applying pigment under the skin will cause cancer in the long term. Therefore, we do not directly say ‘it causes cancer’, but we do not find it right to inject artificial things into the skin from the outside. Even having it done in a good place may pose a risk. Especially if these procedures are not performed in a non-sterile, proper place and are not applied correctly by a non-qualified person, it may cause viral infection in people. Infection and inflammation can be seen in the eye. Various allergic reactions such as skin redness and itching can be seen.”
“The cause of 90 per cent of skin cancer is sunlight”
Pointing to sunlight as the cause of 90 per cent of skin cancer, Kutlubay stated that sunscreen should be used for this reason.
Prof. Dr. Kutlubay stated that especially people with a history of cancer in themselves or in their family, people with coloured eyes, light skin, red hair and atypical moles are in a higher risk group and listed the things to be done for skin health as follows
“Balanced nutrition and sleep, adequate water consumption, staying away from stress, not smoking, avoiding alcohol consumption are key for skin health as in many diseases. It is also very important to avoid too much make-up and to remove make-up properly. Sunscreen should be used. But apart from that, there is no need for constant creams, serums, so many cosmetic products or make-up materials.”
“The desire to be wrinkle-free, look perfect and stay young has increased”
The demand to look perfect has skyrocketed in recent years, especially with the effect of social media. The perception of beauty has also changed. In the past, while natural beauties with “small touches” were appreciated, according to Zekayi Kutlubay, especially the younger generation prefers more structured faces. In other words, while more natural procedures were preferred in the past, today the desire to be wrinkle-free and look young is in demand. Stating that he encountered patients who wanted a concrete face without mimicry, Kutlubay stated that the number of people coming with demands such as full lips, almond (fox) eyes, jawline (jawline prominence) has also increased.
“Ultraviolet rays are used in nail dryers, radiation is seen”
Radiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Güner Sönmez, who drew attention to the danger by sharing the article in Nature on the health risks of the drying method of permanent nail polish on his social media account, stated that ultraviolet rays are used during the drying of gel-shaped permanent nail polishes and radiation is seen.
Emphasising that this process was repeated 3 times under a microscope 20 minutes after the cells were placed in the petri dish according to the study in Nature, Prof. Dr. Sönmez stated that 70 percent of these cells died, while the remaining 30 percent showed damage to both DNA and energy-producing mitochondria. Sönmez said, “DNA damage will also occur in the human body, and if it is not repaired, it is transferred from generation to generation as a mutation. If DNA damage is not repaired by the repair mechanisms of cells, the resulting mutation is transferred to new cells and can cause a number of diseases, including cancer.”
“Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of skin cancer”
Güner Sönmez warned that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of skin cancer and criticised the easy sale of nail polish drying tools even on the internet. Considering that those who prefer permanent nail polish procedures are renewed approximately every three weeks, Prof. Dr. Sönmez drew attention to the dangers of such frequent use in terms of health, and advised that if people are very insistent on having it done, it should not exceed twice a year and the application time should be limited.
“Sunscreen cream can be used on the fingers. Antimicroviolet protective gloves that cover the skin but bring out the nails can be used. There are chemicals in a permanent application and it stays in the body for years. It is wrong and risky to constantly apply products containing chemicals to the body and ignore their damages,” said Sönmez, emphasising that research does not necessarily need to be published in journals, and noted that people should already be conscious and live as naturally as possible.
