This same market is expected to grow to $154 billion by 2021. Reviewing the numbers, it seems that this market has weathered depressions, recessions and economic downturns. And why is that? A quick history lesson shows us that more than 500 years ago Juan Ponce de Leon and his crew first set foot on the shores of Florida in search of the Fountain of Youth.
The search for youth and vitality seems to be a universal theme across many historical and pop culture quests - from early explorers to fictional characters like Indiana Jones. Even in our more sinister histories we can find tales of those seeking eternal youth, with examples such as The Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, who bathed in the blood of her slaves to maintain her youth.
In modern times, there are many who take desperate measures to achieve such goals, to risky ends. Despite our current knowledge and the advice of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, there are many risky skin treatments that the willing will try – even in spite of the costs.
So how low will people go to turn back the hands of time? Pretty low. Here are a list of four beauty treatments you may want to spare your body.
Skin Lightening Treatments
A recent FDA investigation found that skin-lightening creams imported from certain countries may be riddled with toxic levels of mercury and other heavy metals. The risk of developing mercury poisoning is a real one: high exposures to mercury can permanently damage the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and kidneys. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include skin rashes (dermatitis), tremors, mood swings, irritability, memory loss, and muscle weakness.
If your product has been produced in China, India, Mexico, or elsewhere abroad, you should check for the following ingredients, which indicate that mercury is present: mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, or mercurio. If the product that you have purchased doesn’t have an ingredient list, or, if you suspect that you have developed any combination of the symptoms outlined above, you should discontinue use and contact a healthcare provider for further evaluation. There are natural products on the market that will even skin tone and give you a healthy glow, without the use of harsh chemicals. Environmental Working Group’s SkinDeep Cosmetics Database, http://www.ewg.org/skindeep, is a great resource to check the ingredients on your skin products to determine how safe they are for your body.
Bikini Waxes
Just as with waxing any other part of the body, bikini waxes pose a number of potential risks to women who undergo the procedures, from skin burns to infections. Cellulitis, an infection of the fatty tissues under the skin, is a particularly dangerous concern.
These infections can lead to hospitalizations, may even threaten to cost a victim a limb, or lead to sepsis. According Women’s Health Magazine, waxing strips off the outermost layer of skin along with the hair, leaving it potentially vulnerable to infection. The inflammation and irritation caused by the procedure may actually trap bacteria under the skin, giving them an opportunity to grow and colonize the cellulite.
If you do opt to have a wax, choose your facility carefully. Look for a waxer who is certified, and know what certification requirements there are in your state. When you arrive, make sure that your technician puts on hand sanitizer and gloves, and that he or she uses clean spatulas for each application of the wax. Or, you can opt to try a sugaring procedure, which has been shown to be safer for patients, less painful, and less likely to cause irritation or infection.
Chemical Peels/Facials
A well-executed facial or chemical peel can make your skin look younger, brighter, and more toned. However, a minor technician error can leave your face scarred from chemical burns or with serious infections. There are many natural alternatives to these procedures that carry significantly less risk, including mashing citrus fruit and mixing with milk or yogurt, which can be applied to the face like a facemask and which will yield similar results. Other DIY peels use a gelatin base and incorporate ingredients that range from tomatoes or grapefruit to wine, green tea, and cucumber.
If you do decide to go with a chemical peel, you should do your homework. Make sure that the person performing the procedure has been certified to be an aesthetician and be sure that all licenses are up to date. Verify that the equipment and room are sanitary. The room should look like a medical facility with sterile equipment, gloves, and protective measures in place to avoid spreading bacteria or other contaminants from patient to patient. You should also avoid top strength chemical peels, especially if you aren’t used to the treatment, and only if the procedure is being performed or supervised by a dermatologist.
Tanning (Especially In A Tanning Bed)
Tans have been typically seen as attractive, giving us a healthy, beach-kissed glow. But according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tanning is actually a sign of skin damage.
“A tan is the skin’s reaction to exposure to UV rays,” says Sharon Miller, M.S.E.E., an FDA scientist and international expert on UV radiation and tanning. “Recognizing exposure to the rays as an ‘insult,’ the skin acts in self-defense by producing more melanin, a pigment that darkens the skin. Over time, this damage will lead to prematurely aged skin and, in some cases, skin cancer.”
The National Cancer Institute backs that with a scary statistic that specifically addresses the concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation that people subject themselves to in tanning beds. Females who use indoor tanning beds are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma. If you have fair skin or a family history of the disease, your risks are even higher.
Instead of baking in the sun all day, or worse, roasting yourself in a UV oven, consider an at-home or salon self-tanning spray, which can give you the same bronzed look without the dangers of tanning. And always be sure to use sunscreen when you plan to spend prolonged periods outdoors.
Before you opt for one of the potentially harmful procedures, recognize that beauty shouldn’t be painful… or problematic.