Beauty Queen Says She Got Melanoma From Nail Salon Drying Lamps — Are UV Rays Safe?

When you go to the nail salon, ask for the drying lamps that use LED bulbs, not UV rays. That’s the guidance from dermatologists looking at the case of current Miss Illinois, Karolina Jasko.

In 2016 Jasko’s nail technician noticed a black line on her thumbnail while removing her acrylic nail extensions in her salon. After seeing a doctor, she was diagnosed with melanoma on her right thumb. “I experienced a lot of different feelings when I got my diagnosis. I was scared, but also confused. I didn’t think that this could happen to me, so I was in a little bit of shock. I’m very thankful for my doctors and my early diagnosis because this could have been a lot worse, so I feel lucky.” Jasko told BuzzFeed. Her doctors told her there was a possibility that the UV rays used from getting her gel manicures could have brought the cancer on, but they also said it was most likely genetic.  It is estimated this year there will be over 96,000 new cases of melanoma in the United States and 7,230 deaths from the disease.

“Ultraviolet exposure, regardless of the source (natural sunlight or indoor lamps), can cause hyperpigmentation, accelerated signs of aging, and skin cancers, says Dr. Dendy Engelman, a New York City dermatologist. Dr. Engelman says cumulative exposure to UV rays increases skin cancer risk. “That said, you don’t have to go without manicures to keep yourself safe, thankfully now there are powdered gel options that don’t require any UV exposure at all.”

She Almost Lost Her Thumb

Doctors told Jasko they might have to amputate her right thumb, but lucky for her, they removed her whole nail matrix, leaving her without a thumbnail for the rest of her life. She was self conscious of her thumb after the surgery so she would not go out in public without a bandaid. Once she was crowned Miss Illinois, she saw this chapter in her life as an opportunity to raise awareness about the possible dangers of UV rays and melanoma, so she has been publicly speaking about it. Her advice for young girls is to go to the dermatologist at least once a year, wear sunscreen and avoid UV rays at the nail salon.

Examining Your Skin for Melanoma, Sunscreen Usage & The Dangers of UV Light

Doing regular self-checks on your skin is important to find skin cancer early. If you’re high-risk, it’s especially vital. Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, talked to SurvivorNet and recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious–and using the acronym ABCDE as a checklist:

Asymmetrical moles: if you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?

Borders: irregular, jagged, not smooth; can also stand for bleeding

Colors: multiple distinct colors in the mole

Diameter: larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser

Evolution: This may be the most important, anything that is changing over time such as gaining color, losing color, painful, itching, hurting, changing shape, etc…

In addition, Jasko told BuzzFeed, “I also wanted to show girls that they need to be confident in their own skin and with their imperfections. I was able to become Miss Illinois and compete on the Miss USA stage with mine. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and they need to embrace that and feel comfortable in their skin. I’m still learning to do so, but I’ve come a long way.”

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