X-ray medical data X-rays for hair removal are currently banned by FDA in the US.
In the first half of the 20th century, X-rays were used around
the country in salons for hair removal. The results, while sometimes
permanent, caused cancer, disfigurement and death in clients.
While they are sometimes used in extremely limited amounts for
medical eyelash removal procedures, X-rays are no longer allowed
for cosmetic hair removal.
See the historical articles at the bottom of this page for some
sobering lessons on the dangers of allowing powerful medical devices
to be used by unqualified personnel, and the echoes of quackery
seen today in the electric tweezer promotional literature.
 = recommended only for in-depth researchers
= may be worth ordering
= strongly recommended
Published medical data
 Pusey (1900): An early medical article extolling the virtues
of x-ray hair removal.
Cipollaro (1947): This is the first published paper warning against
the use of X-rays for hair removal.
Cleveland (1948): This paper lists some of the serious medical side
effects of hair removal by X-ray
Shanks (1967): Discusses the deadly results of 36 years of x-ray
scalp epilation at a British hospital.
Lapidus (1976): Discusses detailed case histories of 5 women who
had cancer on their faces following Tricho System treatment.
Harley (1976): Observes a linear dose-response correlation for
glands of children irradiated with x-rays for scalp ringworm.
Berry (1976): Guinea pig irradiation results in permanent partial
epilation at doses in excess of 1400 rad, and complete epilation
at 1 year occurs in 50 per cent of irradiated fields at 1740
rad. Side effects ranged from redness to raised blistering.
Johannsen (1978): Of 8 sheep receiving full-body x-ray irradiation,
5 were dead within 4 weeks.
Omran (1978): Discusses rates of mental disorder following x-ray
epilation in 109 subjects.
Hartzlar (1984): X-rays used to treat eye malignancies can cause
permanent loss of eyelashes
Rosen (1989): 12 x-ray hair removal patients have cancer rates
and other symptoms that are comparable to those in survivors
of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Huda (1994): Reports on temporary epilation on a patient's
scalp after receiving 110 minutes of radiation during a medical
procedure.
Kyoizumi (1998): Histological study of human hair grafted onto
mice which was then irradiated with x-rays.
Historical articles
Bookchin (1962): An excellent analysis of the Tricho
System, with implications for use of other radiation-emitting
devices for hair removal, such as laser and microwave.
Caufield (1989): A good overview discussing the Tricho
System and the lack of regulatory response, as well as the difficulty
faced by activists raising safety concerns.
McCoy (2000): The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices
has a disucssion of the Tricho System, with illustrations and
excerpts from original promotional material.
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