One thing you should always do before your nail appointment

We often forget to do this before every nail appointment

Getting our nails done is always the biggest treat but we may be causing damage without realising.

You should be putting SPF on your hands before each appointment.

Dr Najia Shaikh told Sky News that this is something many people forget to do but it's one thing we should try to get into the habit of.

Dr. Shaikh said: " It's better to protect your hands. It's better to be safe than sorry."

If your hands are being exposed to the lamps in your nail salon then you should wear an SPF that protects from both UVA and UVB rays.

Dr. Shaikh also suggested wearing fingerless gloves to protect your hands from harmful rays.

There may be little evidence behind the damage the lamps used to dry your nails cause but as Dr. Shaikh said, it's best to be safe.

"Any kind of UV radiation can actually affect the cells, mutate the cells, change the DNA," she added.

Experts hope people get into the habit of applying sun cream to their hands as the potential damage is not worth the risk.

Dermatologist Loren G. Franco told Byrdie:

"If people knew the risks, I think they would start protecting their hands when they get gel manicures."

We'll definitely be taking their advice before our next nail appointment.

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