Some ugly beauty secrets

Oh, what women wouldn’t go through in the name of beauty! For instance, without batting an eyelash, a lot of women are going for eyebrow tattoos (certainly, it saves them the trouble of having to paint their eyebrows on their eyebrow-less faces every single day). But don’t look now because beauty does have its ugly secrets, some of which are revealed in the book How to Wash Your Face (published by Simon & Schuster New York and available at National Book Store) by Dr. Barney Kenet, a leading authority on skin care in the US. This may raise a lot of eyebrows but Dr. Kenet warns that cosmetic tattooing (permanent makeup in the form of tattoo, usually on the eyebrows, eyelids and borders of lips) may be hazardous to your health. The good doctor says that the biggest risk is hepatitis. He notes that a lot of tattoo practitioners are not licensed. According to the American Liver Foundation, tattooing and body piercing (more on that later) may cause "approximately 40 percent of all hepatitis B and C cases with no known source of infection."

Then there’s this ugly condition called tattoo granulomas (a firm, raised bump that’s reddish or inflamed) that may occur if the body produces an immune response to the pigment used in tattooing.

Dr. Kenet lists these other problems: As eyebrows and lips shift downward or change with age, a cosmetic catastrophe may occur. (One wag tells us that if you get an eyebrow tattoo, think of where you’d find your eyebrows when you do decide to get a face-lift later!). Besides, fashion trends change – what’s in today in eyebrow tattoo or liner may be out and way outdated tomorrow.

To avoid these risks, Dr. Kenet prescribes that if you’re getting a cosmetic tattoo, make sure the tattooist has an autoclave (a device that uses steam heat to kill all bacteria and viruses on instruments). That he washes his hands well and dries them before putting on those medical latex gloves. That all used needles and razors are disposed of properly.

The painful truth about body piercing is that it exposes one not only to infection but to other health risks as well, such as allergic skin reactions, large scar formation and swollen lymph nodes. Dr. Kenet adds that it’s also been implicated in the transmission of hepatitis B and C and even HIV.

The FDA gives this "do or dye" warning to consumers: Never ever dye your eyelashes or eyebrows. It can cause an allergic reaction like swelling, irritation and worse, blindness.

Hot tubs are another hot thing these days. But look before you leap or plunge: According to Dr. Kenet, hot tubs that do not maintain adequate chlorine levels can present a health problem called "pseudomonas folliculitis" (small, red, tender pimples usually on the buttocks and legs). So make sure the tub looks antiseptically clean before stepping into it. And ask whether you should shower before using the tub.

Then comes another burning topic: Steaming. Steaming and facial sweating, Dr. Kenet warns, can be bad for the skin. Going deeper than skin-deep, the doctor says that steaming makes skin fragile and "skin can become abraded (irritated) if pinched, picked or manipulated too harshly. Steam that is too hot or too close can damage skin."

Speaking of skin, Dr. Kenet’s book also focuses on this problem shared by women around the world: Cellulite (that puckered, dimply skin on thighs, hips and buttocks). Yes, even thin women have it. Eighty-five percent of women, past puberty, have some cellulite on their bodies. It’s rare among men (how lucky can they get!). And no, it’s not related to obesity.

How to get rid of your cellulite?

According to Dr. Kenet, those who promise to make your cellulite disappear are more interested in making your money disappear. Try massaging with junifer- or ginger-infused oil. Or better yet, chew fresh ginger daily, so Dr. Kenet prescribes.

As for spider veins, Dr. Kenet gives these prescriptions: Don’t smoke, elevate your legs after work, and (for facial veins) avoid sun exposure because the UV rays may cause dilation of the veins.

To stretch this beauty issue further, Dr. Kenet also delves into stretch marks. For this, he recommends: Avoid exposure to the sun. Try alpha hydroxy acids, Retin A, lasers or massage.

Now, do you still want to have that eyebrow tattoo?