DOMINICO ZAPATA/STUFF

Evidence is patchy on whether UV emitting nail drying lamps increase the risk of skin cancer.

Hundreds of cancerous lesions are being cut off Kiwis' fingers amid warnings that UV nail lamps could pose a cancer risk.

The drying lamps - necessary to set gel manicures - emit UVA rays which are strongly linked to premature skin ageing and skin cancer.

And skin cancer on the finger isn't rare in New Zealand. 

Over the last three years there have been 546 publicly funded excisions of the finger, due to skin cancer, according to material released under the Official Information Act. It also led to 38 finger amputations. 

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Some studies show the radiation can damage the skin in just 12 visits, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association of Dermatology. 

But research is mixed on whether the strength of the UV rays causes significant damage. 

According to Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) even the strongest devices only present a moderate UV risk as the exposure is brief and minimal and suggests applying sunscreen to hands 20 minutes before exposure to the lamps.  

It also warns that both LED and UV lights emit UV radiation. 

But avoiding the lamps altogether is the best option, University of Otago preventative and social medicine professor Tony Reeder said. 

"There has been some concern about it," Reeder said. "[Some say] that people should wear sunscreen on their hands when they're [getting nails done]. But it wouldn't protect some areas at all."

While there is no definitive evidence linking skin cancer to gel manicures in New Zealand, the links between UVA rays and cancer were too strong to sidestep, Reeder said. 

"There is evidence that it can cause DNA damage. It's not necessarily repaired either.

"Why would people want to put themselves at potential risk? It doesn't necessarily take much exposure to cause damage.

"The best thing would be to avoid doing it." 

New Zealand has the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with skin cancer overall costing the country around $57 million annually. 

The number of excisions of the finger as a result of skin cancer have increased slightly year-on-year.

In 2014/15 there were 154 publicly funded excisions of skin lesions of the finger, due to skin cancer. This increased to 181 the next year and 211 in 2016/17. 

Different lamps can have different UV strength, Reeder said. 

And to date, no New Zealand research around the risk UV or LED lamps pose has been published. 

"I don't know that these techniques have been very well tested - certainly not in New Zealand -  to know what people are exposing themselves to using this.

"You wouldn't want to expose yourself - especially when you don't really know what levels and what frequencies you're exposing yourself to." 

Melanoma NZ clinical nursing advisor Sinda Hall said the research is lacking, but it's something women worry about. 

"It's a question we do get asked quite a lot." 

 - Stuff