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AIBU?

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11 year old has done her own nails with UV lamp

141 replies

Ponchodreams · 25/10/2025 18:41

Im so shocked that she has done this AIBU? Surely this isn't normal for someone of this age to have access to this kit? Am I completely over-reacting? Please tell me i am as I'm very unpopular right now! This is in light of all the allergy stories I have read and damage to nails etc.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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lottiestars76 · 25/10/2025 20:21

waitamo · 25/10/2025 18:46

Chop her hands off. Right now.

brilliant 🤣

Islandsgirl · 25/10/2025 20:19

GreyCloudsLooming · 25/10/2025 19:52

This. The risk of skin cancer.
It’s shooting up around the world. UV lamps are known to be dangerous, especially so on young skin. The effects may only be discovered years later.

o.m.g (eye roll eye roll) It is a one off, she is an 11 year old girl, tell her not to do it again and get over it.

SmoothCollie · 25/10/2025 20:16

Jamfirstest · 25/10/2025 18:55

I bought my dd a uv lamp and the gel kit when she was that age. Should I resign as a parent?
shes 13 now. I also allow her to order all manner of eyelash extensions which she wears to school.

I’ll get my coat….

This is very poor parenting, please educate yourself.

godmum56 · 25/10/2025 20:15

FlyingSolo16 · 25/10/2025 20:04

At 11 I cut myself baby bangs out of about half my head of hair because I was convinced it would look good.

Kids do stuff. Live and let live I say

yes, loads of kids do including me! but did your mum allow you to continue to cut your own hair? also its not like applying chemicals to nails

godmum56 · 25/10/2025 20:14

I agree a very bad dangerous idea BUT if you didn't forbid it because you weren't aware that it would happen then its a bit more difficult to go ape poo over? I'd deffo take her to a salon to get it removed though.

Comefromaway · 25/10/2025 20:11

I too would be horrified.

the reputable gel companies only sell to professionals. The unreputable ones are known for being more prone to allergies. There is a reason nail techs train.

OnTheBoardwalk · 25/10/2025 20:08

Fgfgfg · 25/10/2025 19:41

She was lucky, another child might not be. About 1 in 40 people develop the allergy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65273991

Well I never knew about any of this.

The BBC article is quite scary, who would have thought having a reaction to the nails would mean you'd never be able to have white fillings and other side effects

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 25/10/2025 20:07

Did she do a good job?

It could be her vocation. There's a lot of money in nails.

Jamfirstest · 25/10/2025 20:05

@SanityLeftTheChat she has 8.

FlyingSolo16 · 25/10/2025 20:04

At 11 I cut myself baby bangs out of about half my head of hair because I was convinced it would look good.

Kids do stuff. Live and let live I say

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 25/10/2025 20:01

Terrytheweasel · 25/10/2025 19:21

shit parent

I’d have to agree.

SanityLeftTheChat · 25/10/2025 20:00

Jamfirstest · 25/10/2025 18:55

I bought my dd a uv lamp and the gel kit when she was that age. Should I resign as a parent?
shes 13 now. I also allow her to order all manner of eyelash extensions which she wears to school.

I’ll get my coat….

Well that depends if you've let her have piercings or not 😂

gamerchick · 25/10/2025 19:59

Newsenmum · 25/10/2025 19:35

Well Ive learned something new today. I had no idea this was such a big
deal.

I know!! I'm not into all of that stuff so never gave it thoughts other than it must be a pain doing the upkeep of them.

Annella · 25/10/2025 19:57

Yes I’d be horrified.

Anyone that isn’t horrified doesn’t understand the seriousness of the potential implications.

Fayaway · 25/10/2025 19:56

justasking111 · 25/10/2025 19:53

It's not great to use glue around the eyes.

Yes I’ve been worried - I wouldn’t want my child having glue near their eyes from even “safe” eyelash kits, let alone whatever non-compliant glue comes with the Temu kits.

Jamfirstest · 25/10/2025 19:55

@Fayawaywonder if that’s my dd….

justasking111 · 25/10/2025 19:53

Fayaway · 25/10/2025 19:37

Funnily enough I just posted on another thread (about Shein/Temu) that someone I know lets their 12yo DD take Temu eyelashes and glue into school to put on other pupils! I think this is so wrong, and potentially dangerous.

It's not great to use glue around the eyes.

GreyCloudsLooming · 25/10/2025 19:52

newchapternewday · 25/10/2025 19:37

There is also the risk of melanoma skin cancer with the use of UV lamps, I would not be encouraging anyone to use them along with sun beds

This. The risk of skin cancer.
It’s shooting up around the world. UV lamps are known to be dangerous, especially so on young skin. The effects may only be discovered years later.

Hankunamatata · 25/10/2025 19:48

Op.

On a side note look at lily and fox website for nail wraps (stickers). No uv, no gel and loads of designs. I moved to use them when I decided not to have gel nails

noctilucentcloud · 25/10/2025 19:48

RandomMess · 25/10/2025 18:49

@gamerchickthe nail polish that you need a UV lamp for contains chemicals that if you become allergic to them means you can’t have certain dental treatment or bone replacements.

This would be my concern too.

Hankunamatata · 25/10/2025 19:47

Flakey99 · 25/10/2025 19:36

Do you say that about taking drugs too?

A one off where the uncured product has come into contact with a child’s delicate skin can certainly cause serious harm.

Ask any consultant dermatologist.

Wow over reaction much

Jamfirstest · 25/10/2025 19:41

@youalright this is my perspective too. My 16 year olds idea of raving is going to a roller disco organised by the pta. I was off my face in parks and in clubs in central London when I was 16 so I’m not sweating the small stuff.

love a bit of mn hand wringing mind

newchapternewday · 25/10/2025 19:37

There is also the risk of melanoma skin cancer with the use of UV lamps, I would not be encouraging anyone to use them along with sun beds

Flakey99 · 25/10/2025 19:37

BauhausOfEliott · 25/10/2025 19:22

Worth noting that millions of people have gel nails, and have done for years, without any problems whatsoever and that gel polish is completely legal and deemed safe.

However, it’s not a good idea to let a child do their own gel nails at home; there’s a reason nail techs go through training to do it professionally. I wouldn’t want an 11-year-old playing about with that stuff and doing it wrong.

Edited

Getting uncured gel on your skin is serious and far more likely to happen when a child is playing compared to a fully qualified trained technician.