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How far would you go to achieve the perfect look? Throughout history, humans have been driven by the desire to present themselves in the best possible light. As it turns out, there’s very little that people won’t do to appear more attractive. Here are ten of the most repulsive beauty treatments ever attempted.
10. Eel Skin Exfoliation Treatment
Some pricey bubble baths leave you with a slimy feeling after you step out. While the manufacturers prefer to describe it as “moisturized,” ‘slimy’ might be a more fitting word for one particular treatment. In China, people are taking baths filled with tiny eels to achieve radiant skin.
Each eel is about the size of a pencil, wriggling across the body and nibbling away at dead skin. This process reveals the youthful, glowing skin beneath. However, these eels don't seem to distinguish between external skin and internal membranes.
A man wearing loose underwear while in an eel bath felt an intense pain and discovered that one of the eels had found its way into his penis. It required a three-hour surgery to remove the intruder, and this incident led other countries to become cautious about importing eels for such treatments.
9. Radiation Therapy
Whenever a scientific breakthrough is made, there's an immediate rush to find a way to commercialize it. Sometimes this leads to advancements that benefit humanity; other times, it results in people applying radioactive substances to their skin.
The strange, glowing effect of radiation made newly discovered elements like radium and polonium appear to be perfect enhancers for the desirable healthy glow. These mysterious radiation rays were quickly promoted as cures for medical issues and were even incorporated into cosmetics. Radium was added to face creams, soaps, rouges, and powders. For those desiring a brighter smile, there was also radioactive toothpaste.
However, the dark side of these radioactive products soon became clear: instead of promoting health, they caused untold numbers of cancers. Radiation poisoning often resulted in sores and hair loss. Those who worked directly with radium developed bone necrosis and incurable cancers, which ultimately ended the fad for radioactive beauty treatments.
8. Lead, Arsenic, and Mercury
While today a tan is a must-have look, symbolizing the leisure of spending endless days at the beach, things were very different in the past. A tan back then showed that you spent your days working outdoors. If you wanted a pale face, you needed the wealth to stay inside. Alternatively, you could take a shortcut by smearing your face with white lead, a practice people have used throughout history. Even then, the dangers were well-known: the lead would eat away at the skin, requiring more and more to cover the damage. As the skin thinned, it would begin to break open. Lead also caused symptoms like aggression, headaches, vomiting, seizures, and eventually death—leaving you with the perfect pale complexion.
For those wanting to get rid of spots, freckles, and other skin issues, another hazardous remedy was available. “Dr. James P. Campbell’s Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers” claimed to clear the skin. Ironically, the skin is one of the organs most severely affected by arsenic poisoning. An overdose of arsenic can result in hair loss, bloody vomit, diarrhea, and convulsions. But hey, at least your freckles will be gone.
Though those products are thankfully relegated to the past, the trend for lighter skin continues today. Skin-lightening products often contain mercury, a toxic substance that can cause numerous health issues, particularly kidney damage. You might achieve a fashionably Western appearance, but you may end up spending your days hooked to a dialysis machine instead.
7. Bee Stings
You should always be cautious when following celebrity advice. Being a great actor or possessing beauty doesn't automatically qualify you as an expert. Gwyneth Paltrow has openly discussed her beauty treatments, and one of them certainly has a sharp twist.
The actress shared with an interviewer:
I’ve been stung by bees. It’s a treatment that’s been around for thousands of years, called apitherapy. People use it to reduce inflammation and scars. It’s actually quite remarkable if you do the research. But, oh man, it’s painful.
While the treatment is painful for Paltrow, it can also be fatal— and not just to the bees. There has been at least one case of liver failure associated with apitherapy.
For those who aren't keen on experiencing actual bee stings, cosmetic products containing bee venom are available. Unfortunately, these will do little beyond contributing to the decline of bee populations and draining your bank account.
6. Fish Pedicure
Fish aren't exactly choosy when it comes to meals. If you dip your feet into a tank of Garra fish, they'll eagerly rush over and eat away the dead skin from even the most pungent feet. These fish are toothless and typically stick to the outer skin, although there have been cases where their feeding frenzy has gone too far, causing bleeding. While the chance of contracting an infection from the fish is considered minimal, the real danger lies in dipping your feet into water that's used by both fish and other clients. Fungal infections can spread quickly, and bacteria from the tank could lead to boils.
Beyond the ‘gross’ factor of having fish nibble on the feet of strangers, some legal regions have declared these fish spas to be unsanitary. In fact, one Arizona fish spa was shut down because products used for cosmetic treatments had to be disinfected and dried before reuse—something that clearly isn't possible with fish.
5. Tapeworm Diets
Losing weight should be simple: burn more calories than you consume, and your weight will drop. But with food being so delicious, many people struggle to cut their calorie intake. As a result, they turn to other methods to burn more calories—besides, of course, exercising.
One unconventional method of shedding pounds is by inviting a tapeworm to live in your intestines. This parasite consumes part of your food intake, growing in size while keeping your waistline in check. Historically, people have sold pills claiming to contain tapeworms, and there have been instances where individuals have actually gone through with it. While tapeworms may lead to weight loss and reduced appetite, they also bring about serious side effects, such as pain, malnutrition, diarrhea, blindness, seizures, and even death.
4. Placenta
The placenta is a vital organ that forms in pregnant mammals, serving the dual purpose of supplying oxygen and nutrients to developing embryos while removing waste. Many animals consume the placenta after birth to replenish lost nutrients, and some humans adopt this practice as well. However, others aren’t satisfied with merely eating it.
Some cosmetic creams claim to include placenta in their formulas, hoping to transfer the youth and vitality associated with it to the user. Unfortunately, there is no conclusive proof that such products work. Sheep placenta is the most commonly used, though those with significant wealth and a strong stomach may opt for creams containing human placenta.
While the placenta might not have much of an impact on the skin, its side effects can be concerning. When incorporated into hair care products, it has been reported that girls as young as 14 months old started showing signs of sexual development due to the hormones contained in the placenta. Ceasing the use of these products helped reverse the changes.
3. Foreskin Facials
The phrase 'as smooth as a baby’s bottom' is often used to describe softness. Some beauty companies have taken this saying to a whole new level. By utilizing the foreskins discarded after circumcisions, they’ve transformed human tissue into a profitable commodity.
Certain facial creams use cells derived from foreskins to infuse their products with growth factors, collagen, and other proteins that are said to reverse signs of aging. The foreskin's stem cells can be cultivated in laboratories, with a single cell able to produce enough for thousands of treatments. This practice, however, has sparked considerable debate, especially among those who view circumcision as a form of genital mutilation.
For those seeking the direct advantages of stem cells, it’s now possible to have cells derived from foreskins injected into your face. These fibroblast cells are said to strengthen the skin’s structure, and users claim to see noticeable improvements in their appearance. However, with each vial of cells priced at approximately $1,000, many would hope for more significant results.
2. Bull Semen
In the competitive world of cosmetics, standing out from the crowd is crucial. One way to do so is by revealing that the secret ingredient in your face mask and hair conditioner is bull semen.
The creator of the semen-based hair treatment was searching for a high-protein formula and apparently decided that bull sperm was the best choice. She reassures her clients, saying, 'It really works. The semen is refrigerated before use, so there’s no odor. It leaves your hair feeling incredibly soft and thick.'
For those who desire a glamorous look without the associated mental images, Imprivo offers a line of products containing the subtly named BSP (Bull Seminal Plasma).
1. Snails
Snail facials are a type of beauty treatment where live snails glide across your face. The gel they leave behind is said to combat the visible signs of aging. Snails have been used for thousands of years to treat inflammation, so there might be some merit to this practice. Professionals who specialize in snail facials claim that the treatment helps reduce scars, acne, and stretch marks. However, there is no scientific evidence to back this up, so perhaps hold off on placing snails on your face just yet.
For those who are squeamish about the idea of snails moving across their skin with their radula (a toothed, tongue-like structure), there are creams available that contain snail gel. The gel is secreted by the snails, and it is said to be more potent when the snails are stressed. There’s no information on how manufacturers stress the snails, but it’s unlikely that these creams are particularly animal-friendly.
