Author(s)

Eva A. Williams¹, Stuart H. Kuschner^2*

¹Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
²Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA.

Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are used in nail salons as part of standard gel nail manicures. While UV radiation is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancers, the risk from exposure to UV nail lamps is unclear. We present a case of a woman who developed squamous cell carcinoma in one finger after exposure to UV lamps. A discussion of the correlation between UV nail lamps and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is provided. Orthopedic surgeons frequently encounter skin cancers of the hand however the role of UV nail lamps has not yet been elucidated in the orthopedic literature. This manuscript aims to address that gap and facilitate patient counseling during such consultations.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Hand Surgery, Ultraviolet Light, Cancer Risk

Williams, E. and Kuschner, S. (2021) Ultraviolet Nail Lamps and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Cause and Effect, or Not?—A Case Report. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 11, 335-339. doi: 10.4236/ojo.2021.1111032.