The Potentially High Price of Being Beautiful

Filed in archive Cases , Diagnostics , Studies on August 2, 2006

These days, I don't spend a lot of time trying to look gorgeous. I work out of my home, where no one but my neighbors, my dogs, and my husband generally has to see me. After reading an article on FoxNews.com about the health risks of certain cosmetics procedures, I'm somewhat comforted by my lack of enthusiasm about trying to look beautiful.

According to the article, most beauty treatments are safe as long as they're done by a skilled, licensed technician. But put yourself in unskilled hands and you could end up with a nasty, persistent infection or much worse. One woman in Fort Worth, Texas died after getting a pedicure. She had contracted an antibiotic resistant infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Pedicures also turned out to be disastrous for 110 clients at a salon in Santa Cruz, California. They all contracted treatment resistant infections that caused boils and abscesses.

Permanent makeup is also proving to be hazardous for some people. Because it involves breaching the skin, there's always a chance of viral or bacterial infections. One woman in San Antonio, Texas ended up contracting hepatitis C after having permanent makeup applied. Another person in Canada contracted HIV. What's more, many people turn out to be allergic to the dyes that are used in permanent makeup, especially those from the red family.

While all of these horror stories might be enough to drive some people away from beauty treatments, too many other people don't pay enough attention to the technicians providing their services. If you decide to have a beauty treatment done, it's important to make sure the provider is qualified, well-equipped and working at a reputable location. Don't be swayed by low prices or unrealistic promises. You may end up scoring a great deal on a manicure and come away with a lot more than you bargained for.

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