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"1. Gel Manicures The Risk: To cure long-wearing gel polish, you stick your hands in a toaster-like box that emits UV radiation (a known carcinogen). The Truth: &amp;quot;Any UV light does pose a relative risk, but it&amp;#039;s hard to say how much \u2014 each lamp is different,&amp;quot; says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., a Boston derm. Her advice: Keep the occasional appointment, but slather hands with SPF 30 half an hour before. 2. Botox The Risk: The wrinkle-smoothing injectable (aka botulinum toxin) is FDA-approved. &amp;quot;Some people hear Botox, the drug, and still confuse it with botulism, the disease caused by eating bacterial contaminated food,&amp;quot; says Heidi Waldorf, M.D., a derm in New York. The Truth: FDA-approved for cosmetic use since 2002 in the U.S., &amp;quot;Botox has a better safety record than aspirin,&amp;quot; says Dr. Waldorf. The critical part is making sure you&amp;#039;re getting the real \u2014 not counterfeit \u2014 stuff. Avoid &amp;quot;bargain Botox&amp;quot; (via cheapo Groupons) and get it only from a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or oculoplastic surgeon. 3. Hair-Smoothing Treatments The Risk: When the FDA issued a 2011 warning letter about high levels of formaldehyde (in its liquid form, methylene glycol) in one particular smoothing treatment, people panicked ... and rightly so. When activated by heat, formaldehyde vaporizes, and you can breathe it in. (To make matters worse, the product was labeled formaldehyde-free.) The Truth: At the very least, it can make your eyes water and nose itch,&amp;quot; says Martyn Smith, a professor of toxicology at the University of California at Berkeley. &amp;quot;Long-term, it&amp;#039;s reportedly toxic to your nervous system \u2014 impairing your mood, memory, balance, and sleep \u2014 and with repeated exposure, it can cause cancer.&amp;quot; Insist on truly formaldehyde-free alternatives: Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin Smoothing lasts up to five months (visit Goldwell-NorthAmerica.com for salons), while Tresemm\u00E9 7-Day Keratin Smooth Kit ($8, drugstores) is a heat-activated weekly DIY system. And if you work in a salon, demand a nontoxic alternative and a ventilator. 4. Spray Tans The Risk: DHA, the active ingredient, was proven safe as a cream, not an aerosol, which can be inhaled. &amp;quot;The long-term effects have not been studied,&amp;quot; says Reynold A. Panettieri Jr., M.D., a toxicologist at the Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology. The Truth: Spraying yourself once or twice a month is no biggie &amp;quot;as long as you hold your breath when the gun is on,&amp;quot; says Dr. Panettieri. 5. Eyelash Extensions The Risk: Late Show fans may remember when Kristin Chenoweth showed up wearing shades to cover an allergic reaction to lash extensions \u2014 specifically the formaldehyde-spiked glue that was used. &amp;quot;Hard crusty stuff came out of it,&amp;quot; she later told Anderson Cooper. Others have reported injuries during application. The Truth: Lash extensions aren&amp;#039;t dangerous \u2014 bad lash techs are, says Cherise Morris, founder of Elite Lash Studio, in Boston. A true pro will have you lie down with your eyes closed as she uses tweezers to adhere extensions (dipped in high-quality glue) to individual lashes. Signs it&amp;#039;s amateur hour? Your tech takes less than two hours (she could be cutting corners by bunching lashes together) or charges you less than $100 (a sign of low-quality glue). If you&amp;#039;re asked to keep your eyes open, run. &amp;quot;One clumsy move could scratch your cornea,&amp;quot; says Morris. Do your research before heading to the salon. Yelp is a good place to start. This article was originally published as &amp;quot;Are You Wearing Beauty Blinders?&amp;quot; in the August 2014 issue of Cosmopolitan. Click here to subscribe to the digital edition! "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/news/a29349/danger-behind-common-beauty-treatments/>