Deadly Beauty: The History of Radiation in Cosmetic Medicine
Sometimes when we look back in the history of cosmetic medicine, we can appreciate how far we have really come. In the early 20th century amazing scientific discoveries were made - but how dangerous they could be was not always fully appreciated at the time. One classic example of this was the use of radiation in aesthetic medicine - a deadly beauty trend with mortal consequences.
X-rays
X-rays were accidentally discovered in 1985 by a German physicist. X-ray treatments for skin conditions were first introduced shortly afterwards in the early 1900s. X-rays were thought to have a therapeutic effect on skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. The treatment involved exposing the affected area to low doses of X-rays for several minutes, several times a week. The idea behind the treatment was that the X-rays would kill the bacteria causing the skin condition, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the growth of new skin cells.
Beyond that, x-rays were being used as a solution for almost everything, including the removal of unwanted hair from their faces, arms, and legs. This procedure was particularly popular amongst women of the time.
X-ray depilation worked by exposing the skin to a high dose of X-rays, which destroyed the hair follicles and prevented the hair from growing back. The procedure was carried out by a trained technician or physician, who would apply a layer of petroleum jelly or another protective substance to the skin to prevent burns.
The patient would then be positioned under an X-ray machine, and the technician would adjust the settings to deliver a high dose of X-rays to the targeted area. The X-rays would penetrate the skin and damage the hair follicles, causing them to stop producing hair.
X-ray depilation was considered a relatively quick and painless procedure, and it was advertised as a safe and effective way to permanently remove unwanted hair. However, the procedure was not without its risks. High doses of X-rays can cause damage to the skin, including burns and radiation sickness. Additionally, there was a risk of developing cancer due to the prolonged exposure to radiation.
The procedure was taken off the market in 1946, but the damage was long-lasting. Research from the 1970s showed that 35% of radiation-based cancers in women correlated to x-ray depilation.
Radium
Another form of radiation that was popular in beauty treatments during the early 20th century was radium. Radium was discovered in 1898 by Marie Curie and was considered a miracle cure for many ailments. Of course, we know Marie Curie’s sad end - her early death succumbing to radiation illness.
Radium was believed to have a rejuvenating effect on the skin and was used in a variety of beauty products, including face creams, powders, and even toothpaste. Radium was also used in spas and beauty salons in the form of radium-infused water or as a mask applied directly to the skin.
The use of radium in beauty treatments was based on the belief that it could stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that are essential for healthy, youthful-looking skin. Radium was also believed to have a detoxifying effect on the body and was used to treat a variety of ailments, including arthritis, fatigue, and even cancer.
However, the use of radium in beauty treatments was not without its dangers. Radium is a highly radioactive substance and exposure to it can cause serious health problems, including radiation sickness, cancer, and even death. Despite this, many beauty products and treatments containing radium were marketed as safe and effective, and their use was not regulated by the government.
The dangers of radium became more widely known in the 1920s, following the deaths of several women who had worked in radium factories. The Radium Girls were a group of female factory workers who were employed in the early 20th century to paint watch dials and other instruments with luminous paint. The paint contained radium, a highly radioactive element that was believed to be safe at the time.
The Radium Girls were exposed to radium on a daily basis as they used small brushes to apply the paint to the dials. To achieve a fine point on their brushes, they were instructed to put the brush tips in their mouths, which caused them to ingest small amounts of radium. They were also exposed to radium dust that was generated during the painting process.
As a result of their prolonged exposure to radium, many of the Radium Girls developed serious health problems, including anemia, bone fractures, and cancers. The workers began to suffer from mysterious illnesses, and many of them died at a young age. These women had developed radiation poisoning, which had caused bone deterioration and other serious health problems. This led to increased public awareness of the dangers of radium and eventually led to the regulation of its use in beauty products and treatments.
Check out our slide summary below:
References
Herzig, R. (1999). Removing Roots: “North American Hiroshima Maidens” and the X Ray. Technology and Culture, 40(4), 723–745. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25147409
We all know I love a little bit of medical history - but I thought I would change it up a little in this article and focus on a pioneering woman in beauty history.
In the late 19th century, Sarah Breedlove—later known as Madam C.J. Walker—emerged as the first self-made female millionaire. The first child in her family born into freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation, Sarah’s early years were steeped in adversity. Yet, from these humble beginnings, she rose to become an emblem of resilience, ingenuity, and empowerment for African American women across the nation.