From the Pacific Coast Journal of Homoeopathy, January 1933.
DAME Fashion is an aristocrat. She speaks with authority and her edicts are obeyed without question by the large majority of women throughout the world.
This mighty influence, called fashion, tells milady just what kind of clothes she shall wear, also when and how. What shoes are proper for this or that occasion, how her hair shall be cut, whether it be short, straight or curly, whether it shall natural or coloured, as well as the means of preserving and caring for it; and should the individual be unfortunate enough to have hair growth in unwanted places, how it shall be removed.
Milady is told that her skin must be preserved in a state of beauty, and the things necessary to attain this are advised, what creams, powders, rouges, lipsticks, perfumes, massage creams, facial treatments, eyelash and eyebrow make-up, astringents, wrinkle removers, freckle removers, etc., are effective for the various purposes desired. this dictator of modern womanhood insists that she shall be slender. Fat must be removed; her body must be tanned a deep brown, the nails carefully manicured, her teeth must be clean and white, odours must be eliminated, perspiration must be stopped under the armpits.
She must be athletic, also she must be socially incline with the inevitable bridge party as one of the basic elements. Smoking is the thrill of the day. I may have omitted some things, but I am sure that the above list is comprehensive enough to give some idea of the possible conditions that might result from womans effort to carry out Dame Fashions dictates.
I will discuss briefly some of the conditions that result from womans efforts to carry out fashions decree toward the care, preservation, and beautification of the hair and the removal thereof when growing in unwanted places.
Curling of the hair or permanent waving, effected by means of hot curling irons or by chemical means, often results in severe burns of the scalp when the former is used and very severe dermatitis venenata from the latter. Scalp burns are hard to heal and of course at times result in scarring and permanent baldness in the part affected. Dyeing or colouring of the hair causes in some individuals considerable suffering, both of a general and local character.
These dyes frequently cause violent dermatitis venenata, and in some instances general symptoms such as nausea, malaise, headache, etc. Some of the colouring materials cause a peculiar scalp itching without demonstrable irritation. Of course any of these things may induce eye inflammations.
Women have been advised from various and sundry sources that washing the face with soap and water is tabu, with the subsequent accumulation of creams, greases, powders, rouges, etc., in the pores, with blackened formation and secondary pus infection. Likewise dermatitis from these same sources are common. Inflammation of the lips from lipstick is fairly common.
Dermatitis of the lids as well as conjunctivitis may follow use of eye make-up and follicular irritation and infection from plucking the eyebrows. These various cosmetics may cause dermatitis in other parts by contact.
The habit of wearing celluloid rimmed goggles for eye protection from the sum has caused a severe dermatitis in sensitive individuals, where the rim touches the skin.
Inflammations of the lips and gums follow the use of some dentifrices and mouth washes in sensitive individuals, also irritation from too vigorous and misdirected efforts to keep the teeth white.
Some women are unfortunate enough to have hair grow in unwanted places, much to their chagrin and distress. Consequently they attempt anything to remove it, often times resulting in disfigurement and disaster. Depilatories of various kinds are used, all of which are at times irritating, particularly if the materials used are old or they are used unwisely. Plucking and shaving are also done, with potential damage from infection. The use of thallium acetate is fraught with great danger even death.
Electrolysis is perhaps the best means of removing hair, yet in inexperienced hands may cause scarring and infections, not to mention failure in removing the hair. The dangers from X-ray epilation are great. Its use may result in atrophy, enlargement of blood vessels and possibly cancer. X-ray should never be used for epilation of superfluous hairs on any part of the body.
Face peels with strong preparations of carbolic acid, etc., often cause burns with resulting scar, contractions in the natural folds of the face, such as the angles of the mouth, eye, etc. Infections are common. Such treatments also remove the natural lines of the face, leaving it expressionless. Face lifting when performed by experts is successful, but considerable damage from infection, faulty expression, etc., when poorly done.
Removal of moles and other new growths by inexperienced or incompetent persons may result in disfigurement and possibly more serious conditions such as malignancy.
Certain perfumes such as eau de cologne, particularly when exposure to the sum follows their application, result in a dermatitis and pigmentation, called Berloque dermatitis.
Perspiration under the armpits must be stopped and various preparations are used, many of irritative character, causing dermatitis and abscess formation of the axillary glands. Shaving under the arms may cause a similar condition.
Clothing has its influences. It may be dyed with irritating dyes or there may be sensitization to silk, wool, rayon, or fur. These clothes may be too scanty, producing circulatory changes due to cold. Silk stockings may produce similar effects. The absence of them causes roughness of the skin and cold effects.
Shoes are often troublesome, aside from the fact that they might be too tight. Cramping the toes causes corns, bunions and chafing, pressure callus at base of toes with subsequent infection of a granulomatous nature, often very painful, more often seen when pumps and certain strap shoes are worn. Shoe dye poisoning happens at times; of course callus on the soles is common.
Blister formation on the heel with secondary infection is rather frequent. Oedema of the feet and ankles due to high heeled shoes and straps around the ankles. Changes in the nails from pressure, in growing toenails, etc., infections resulting from poor chiropody. Pressure symptoms from tight garters and rolled stockings, and dermatitis from metal on garters are all possible defects.
