These were sold under various Dr. Somebody’s brands.
Even in the 1800’s, reputable doctors knew arsenic was highly toxic, and they tried to warn people away from these products. But for a time, the pallor and waxy, death-like skin arising from arsenic poisoning was a beauty ideal.
At least dozens of deaths were attributed to the use of arsenic wafers as a beauty aid, and the true number might be much greater than anyone knows.
They were often advertised as being safe, as seen on this box.
I have to think that we have not come very far. Today, no arsenic wafers, but an epidemic of mental health crises, and people get plastic surgery to look like distorted Instagram-filter version of themselves.
Don’t forget the thousands of children that are doing entire fucking “skincare rituals” and unknowingly fucking up their faces because: