8 Editor-Recommended UV Nail Lamps for At-Home Gel Manis

No, LED lamps are not necessarily better for you than UV lamps, and both can damage skin. "UV manicure lamps emit UVA radiation, which is a known cancer-causing agent," says board-certified dermatologist, Karan Lal, MD adding that exposure to this radiation may lead to sun spots and damage to the skin.

However, LED lamps also expose you to UV light. It might feel less hot and look less bright than a UV lamp, but LEDs still emit levels of UVA radiation. “Nail lamps use LED bulbs because they are long-lasting and they do not emit heat—but they are still UV light,” cautions board-certified Dornechia Carter, MD. “These are not safer.”

Regardless of which type of lamp to decide to purchase, remember to always apply sunscreen prior to painting your nails. This will prevent damage and protect your skin from any harmful rays.

LED nail lamps will cure gel polish much faster than UV nail lamps. On average, an LED lamp takes 30 to 60 seconds to cure your gel, whereas a UV lamp takes up to two to three minutes. My personal preference is an LED lamp due to it also having a longer lifespan than UV options. However, as noted above, both pose risks.

Yes, both UV-only lamps and UV/LED lamps can be harmful to the skin, especially if used frequently, as both emit UVA radiation. "We don’t have evidence to prove UVA lamps cause skin cancer, but based on our understanding of UVA radiation, the risk exists," Dr. Lal says. Dr. Carter broke down the risk in even more detail: Assuming each gel manicure takes about five separate layers of polish (including a base and top coat), and each layer takes about two minutes to cure (this is a general estimate), she says, “This is a 10-minute tan for the back of the hands.” That amount of time “increases your risk for the signs of aging, such as age spots, thinning, wrinkles, as well as skin cancer.”

Due to the increased risk of repeated exposure, Dr. Carter suggests reserving gel manis for special occasions and using long-lasting polishes. And if you use UV/LED nail lamps regularly, then she recommends wearing a hydrating sunscreen, like the EltaMD Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ or the LaRoche Posay Melt-in Sunscreen Milk (which needs to be applied 15 minutes prior to UV exposure), to protect your hands from sun damage and keep them nice and smooth. There are also special gloves for gel manicures with exposed fingertips that will protect the top of your hands, but Dr. Carter wants you to remember, “This does not protect the tips of the nails or nail beds from the potential adverse effects of UV exposure.”

Gel nail polish differs from regular nail polish due to the fact that it is set or cured with ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light can come from either a UV or LED source, and in the world of gel manicures, not all nail lamps are created equal.

What's the difference between UV and LED nail lamps?

The key difference between UV and LED nail lamps is the type of lightbulb used. LEDs are usually more energy efficient and emit weaker rays than UV light bulbs. Here’s what that means for your nails:

UV nail lamps can cure all LED nail polishes, whereas LED nail lamps can only cure polishes that specifically work with the lamp. This information will be noted on the nail polish.A UV nail lamp takes a few minutes longer to cure the gel polish, whereas the LED nail lamp is much quicker. That said, there are gel nail lamps available with both LED and UV lights to ensure there will be no difficulties curing the polish.

If you still don’t know how to decide, start by picking out what brand of gel polish you want to use. Once you’ve hit purchase, take a peek at the label and see what type of light—UV or LED—is needed to cure the polish and go from there.

Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. Dornechia George Carter, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. As the founder of Affinity Dermatology, she specializes in preventative skincare and the treatment of common skin conditions, like sun damage, acne, and eczema.

Mary Honkus is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience writing about beauty trends and products. You'll never catch her without a flawless manicure, and she's spent years testing nail lamps that make perfecting your at-home manicure a breeze.

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty, with over three years of experience writing in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces. She’s an expert at researching and writing nail stories, like the best press-on nailsand the top nail stickers. She regularly tests and analyzes UV nail lamps on her own nails for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top professionals to assess new formulas and brands.