Fashionably Dangerous

Corsets, cage crinoline petticoats, and foot binding have gone out of vogue, but some of the latest fashion trends are just as bad—if not worse—for your health. Here's what you should know about the risks associated with everything from skinny jeans to the Brazilian wax.

Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video sparked a national trend of wearing circle contacts designed to make the iris appear bigger. Although Gaga's doll-like eyes were most likely generated by a computer, young women across the country have been replicating the look with lenses imported from Asia. While it's against the law to sell any contacts—whether corrective or cosmetic—without a prescription, these extra-large lenses are widely available online, typically for $20 to $30 a pair. Doctors warn that the illegal accessories can cause serious eye injuries and infections, and may even lead to blindness.

Here's the skinny: too-tight jeans can cause a nerve problem called meralgia parensthetica. Also known as "tingling thigh syndrome," the condition occurs when pressure cuts off the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, creating a numb or burning sensation along the upper leg. Victims of merlagia paresnthetica typically include construction workers who wear heavy belts, as well as pregnant women and those who are obese. But with super-tight jeans making a comeback in recent years, more and more young ladies at a healthy weight are complaining to doctors about the "painful pinch." Although there's little risk of permanent damage, nothing can ruin a night on the town like legs that feel asleep.

American teenagers may be mocked for their metal mouths, but braces are all the rage in Thailand. Girls who can't afford to visit an orthodontist are letting entrepreneurs attach fake braces (which are medically worthless) with mail-ordered dental supplies in flea markets and living rooms. In addition to causing blood clots and nerve damage, these "underground braces" can be deadly. One botched job left a 17-year-old girl with an infected thyroid, which led to fatal heart failure. Police have also linked the death of a 14-year-old girl to an open-air, illegal braces stall in Chon Buri.

A few years ago, a Brazilian method to eliminate frizz, soften curls, and add shine hit American salons. Known as escova progressiva (progressive blow-dry), the pricey treatment has been marketed as an alternative to traditional relaxers and straighteners, which use harsh chemicals to break the bonds of the hair. Yes, the Brazilian procedure coats the cuticle with keratin, a "natural" protein found in the hair. But let's get it straight: that keratin needs formaldehyde, classified as a human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, to stick. Formaldehyde can cause eye and respiratory-tract irritation, and studies with rats have shown a link between the chemical and tumors. While some treatments claim to be "formaldehyde-free," many of them still contain formaldehyde derivatives or chemicals in the same family (formalin, aldahyde, and methanol).

They may eliminate the dreaded VPL (visible panty line), but the briefest of briefs can also be bad for your health. The strip of a thong serves as a conduit for rectal bacteria to travel to the vagina and urethra, putting wearers at risk of developing a vaginal or urinary-tract infection. With their snug fit, thongs can also cause hemorrhoids and anal lacerations. If you can't bring yourself to wear anything but a thong with leggings, at least think twice before sporting the skin-tight panties at the gym. A sweaty thong creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Forget baseball cards, pogs, and oily stickers. Kids today are trading Silly Bandz, those stretchy, multicolor bracelets that snap into a seemingly infinite number of shapes. Schools in several states have banned the Bandz, citing concerns about distraction. But now some doctors are saying that the silicone bangles may pose health risks, too. Too-tight bands can constrict the flow of blood to the hands, causing blood clots to form in some of the veins. While such an event is unlikely, parents should pay attention if a kid's arm starts swelling, feels numb, or changes color.

A sun-kissed glow may look nice with summer whites, but it's no secret that tanning—whether under the sun or in a salon—can cause skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point, and about 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Indoor tanning is not a safe alternative: ultraviolet radiation is a proven human carcinogen, and people who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous-cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal-cell carcinoma. Still, more than 30 million people tan indoors in the U.S. each year, and the indoor-tanning industry has an annual estimated revenue of $5 billion. That number is actually relatively low compared with the amount that people in Asia spend on everything from pills to lasers to creams to look pale: $18 billion. And that skin-altering obsession comes with its own health risks: skin whitening can lead to the loss of melanin, and inexpensive (and illegal) creams and bleaches containing mercuric chloride have left women disfigured.

Soaring stilettos, thick wedges, and extreme platforms are growing in popularity. Trendsetter Lady Gaga sported Alexander McQueen's 12-inch Armadillo booties in her "Bad Romance" video (yes, the same one that popularized those illegal contact lenses). Even Tina Fey donned a pair of five-inch pumps to deliver her opening monologue on Saturday Night Live. But know the risks before shelling out $500 for a pair of leg-elongating Manolo Blahniks: wearing high heels can strain the knee, push the hips and spine out of alignment, shorten calf muscles, lead to joint pain and hammertoes, or even produce a bony enlargement on the heel known as Haglund's deformity.

Oversize purses can be a literal pain in the neck. They can also lead to shoulder and back soreness, muscle strain, joint pain, shoulder asymmetry, and even headaches. Luckily, the pain is usually temporary. The American Chiropractic Association recommends that a handbag weigh no more than 10 percent of a person's weight, but you typically need to carry 50 pounds or more to create lasting back damage. Keep in mind that giving your body a break and putting a big bag on the floor also presents some risks. The purse may pick up harmful bacteria such as deadly E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause a skin infection and toxic-shock syndrome. If you must tote a jumbo bag, at least try to clean it with antibacterial wipes every now and then.

Brooke Shields may be known for her big brows, but her eyelashes apparently aren't long enough. Last year the actress and model became an enthusiastic spokeswoman for Latisse, an FDA-approved drug that promises to lengthen, thicken, and darken lashes. But in October the FDA accused Allergan, the maker of the medication, of not mentioning some serious side effects. (Allergan has since updated the Latisse Web site to address the FDA's concerns.) Here's why you should bat an eye: Latisse may cause unwanted hair growth or permanent skin darkening anywhere the medication accidently touches. A contaminated applicator or bottle tip can also lead to bacterial conjunctivitis.

"You changed my life!!" Gwyneth Paltrow wrote to the J. Sisters, the pioneers of the Brazilian bikini wax in the United States. But reactions to the increasingly popular waxes aren't always so positive: in March 2009, New Jersey almost banned Brazilian waxes after two women landed in the hospital as a result of them. In 2007 an Australian woman with type 1 diabetes nearly died of a bacterial infection she developed after a "sphinx" (or completely bare) treatment. Waxing can remove small bits of the skin's outermost layer, making it easier for bacteria to enter the body and infections like staph to take hold. For Brazilian aficionados, clean facilities are a must. People with diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease, skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, or weakened immune systems should probably avoid waxing altogether.