Good skin care is the foundation of beauty. But many women enjoy us-ing makeup (cosmetics) too. If you use makeup, follow these tips:
l Read the labels for product content and safety information.
l Wash your hands before applying makeup.
l Throw out products if the color chang-es or they get an odor.
l Throw out mascara after 3 months.
l Keep product containers tightly closed when not in use.
l Don’t share your makeup.
l Call your doctor if a product causes skin changes like itching and rash—you may be having an allergic reaction.
Tattoos and permanent makeup
Tattoos are colored inks inserted under your skin. Permanent makeup is a tat-too made to look like eyebrow, lip, and eye liner. If you like tattoos, keep these health risks in mind: Needles that are not properly cleaned can pass infections— even HIV—from person to person. Al-lergic reactions to tattoo ink are rare but can happen. Also, poorly applied tattoos can be costly to remove. Temporary tat-toos and other skin-staining products, including henna dyes, can cause allergic reactions. Henna is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only for use as a hair dye.
Hair removal
Cultural norms often affect a woman’s choice to remove body hair. Many women shave their legs and underarms. Wet hair first, then shave in the direc-tion that your hair grows. Chemicals called depilatories dissolve unwanted hair. Depilatories can irritate, so always test on a small area of skin before using. Never use chemicals around your eyes or on broken skin. For laser, epilator (elec-trolysis), waxing, sugaring, or threading treatments, find a licensed technician. Serious side effects of hair removal can include swelling, blistering, scarring, and infection.
Body piercing
Before piercing—poking a hole and inserting jewelry in—any part of your body, learn about the health risks. Piercings in your tongue, cheeks, and lips may cause gum disease. Infection is common in mouth and nose piercings, so talk with your doctor about signs of infection as well as allergies. Also ask if your shots, especially hepatitis and teta-nus, are up to date. And make sure the shop follows safety and sanitary steps as set by the law.
Cosmetic Procedures and Surgery
Some women choose to have cosmetic proce-dures to improve appearance and self-esteem. But the decision to have a cosmetic procedure should not be made lightly. If you are thinking about having a cosmetic procedure, ask your doctor:
• How is the procedure done?
• Am I good candidate for the procedure?
• How does my health history affect my risk of problems?
• What results and side effects can I expect?
• What are the risks?
• When can I restart normal activities?
• How much will the procedure cost? (Cosmetic procedures usually are not covered by insurance.)
• What is your training and experience?
• Can you provide references from patients you have treated?
