Radiation Beauty Products
In the early 20th century, radioactivity was the hottest trend—literally. Products containing radium or thorium were sold as miracle cures for fatigue, aging, and even impotence. Beauty creams, toothpaste, and tonics like “Radithor” promised to rejuvenate users with the “energy of the atom.” It was glamorous and scientific—until people started dying.
One infamous case involved industrialist Eben Byers, who drank multiple bottles of Radithor daily. His jaw eventually fell off due to radiation necrosis, and he died in agony. The “Radium Girls,” who painted glow-in-the-dark watch dials, licked their brushes and suffered gruesome fates from internal radiation poisoning. These tragedies forced governments to start regulating radioactive consumer goods—but only after many glowing smiles turned into horrifying deaths.
