If you are a woman you will be well aware of the daily toils we undergo as the fairer gender. Not only are we faced with the trials and tribulations of menstruation and the responsibility of keeping our male counterparts in order but we also get images of flawless super models thrust in our faces on a regular basis.

Whether we are watching the television, visiting the cinema, flicking through the glossies or simply walking down the street, slim, long legged, well-turned out, sun-kissed women (and men) are at every turn.

But looking good isn't as simple and as risk-free as it first may seem. A variety of compensation claims resulting from people who were attempting to beautify themselves have been reported in the media of late and as the Western World becomes increasingly fascinated with skin care, hair products and tanning booths it is thought that personal injury claims of this nature are set to rise.

You couldn't make this stuff up
While you would think that cosmetics are designed for use on the skin and they should be allergen free and clearly labelled as such, there are so many different types of soap, hand cream, and perfume on the market that it is unlikely that all of these are safe against personal injury.

Skin rashes, inflammation and burn injuries are the most common injuries reported as caused by cosmetics. These can leave lasting effects including both physical and emotional scarring.

There was a case reported during the Fifa World Cup 2006 where two teenage football supporters painted their faces in the style of the England flag and ended up having serious allergic reactions. After returning home from the game their faces began to burn and swell up where they had been wearing the face paint. One girl woke up the next morning unable to see, meaning she missed out on taking some of her GCSE exams. It turned out that the Netto supermarket where the paints were purchased had previously received complaints about the products and should have withdrawn the paints from sale. The girls' parents continued to pursue product liability compensation claims.

Compensation claim awards for scarring can range from �1,300 for a single noticeable scar or several superficial scars to legs, arms or hands to �7,500 for a number of noticeable laceration scars or a single disfiguring scar to similar areas. Facial disfigurement qualifies for significantly higher awards when successful compensation claims are made. The most severe scarring in a relatively young woman where cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction serious can reach awards of up to �53,000.

Hair today gone tomorrow
Those that work in the beauty industry are also at risk of sustaining workplace injuries. There have been numerous cases of hairdressers making compensation claims for dermatitis, a dry, itchy, irritating skin condition to the hands which can be caused by exposure to irritants used in shampoos and colours.

A health and safety expert for the hair and beauty industry has stated, "Up to 80% of hairdressers suffer from skin damage.

"Compared to workers in the metal trade, printers and vehicle body repairers hair and beauty is the industry where the most cases of dermatitis occur.

"Speak to any hairdresser or beautician and ask them what the most important tool of their job is and the answer has to be their hands! It stands to reason that protecting them form dermatitis makes perfect sense."

Where using substances that cause dermatitis is unavoidable, it is the responsibility of salon owners to provide their staff with protective gloves and failure to do this could mean that employees are at risk of injury and the employer faces having a hefty compensation claim made against them. For more information visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/hairdressing/.

There is also risk of sustaining personal injury when using a home hair dye kit. Each pack should plainly state that a patch test is required before application of the product to ensure an allergic reaction doesn't occur. If a consumer uses a hair colour product without performing a patch test it is unlikely that they will be able to make a personal injury compensation claim if they have an allergic reaction unless it can be proven in a court of law that the instructions provided by the manufacturer were unclear or that the manufacturer was at fault in some other way.

Compensation awards for damage to hair range from �2,150 to �6,000 and the level awarded will depend on the extent of damage and how long it takes for the hair to grow back.

Your hair could also be damaged by a defective styling device. One of the most controversial hair styling implements when it comes to compensation claims are GHD straightening irons. There have been numerous cases reported where GHDs have caught alight without warning.

When Paula South's GHDs sparked and caught fire in her hand she contacted the company to make a product liability complaint and was told that the incident was a result of wear and tear. She was lucky to escape serious personal injury, as was another consumer who went to bed with her GHD straightners plugged into the wall but switched off at the unit only to wake up in a flame engulfed bed, smoke filled room with a pair of melted down GHDs where she had left them. BBC's Watchdog investigated the company that advertise this product as �a new religion for hair' and found serious faults in some of their models.

A heated issue
Sun beds are another worry for the modern woman. Many of us have become conscious about the risk of the sun's rays and opt to cover up during the warmer months to postpone those signs of aging just a little bit longer. Instead we have turned to sun beds and tanning booths; the convenience of the year-round sun tanning device that is available at every street corner to satisfy our needs.

However, many are still unaware of the potential hazards that a couple of weekly sessions at your local tanning salon can have. Malignant melanoma of the skin is a significant cause of cancer deaths and research has indicated a possible association between skin cancer and sun beds.

There are other personal injuries that you could sustain in a tanning salon. Over exposure to the ultra violet radiation can lead to severe burn injuries and damage to the eyes.

According to the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), there are more sun bed salons in Scotland per head of population than in any other part of the UK. From 1995 to 2005 Scotland had a 300% increase in cases of malignant melanoma, which causes 100 deaths in each MSP constituency every year.

When it comes to making a compensation claim against a tanning salon you will need to establish that your personal injury was the fault of the salon. For example, you may have to prove that a sun bed was faulty and that salon staff were aware of this or that staff failed to supervise your use of a sun bed adequately.

To avoid sustaining personal injury and finding yourself in a position where you need to instruct personal injury solicitors to make a no win no fee compensation claim it is best that you aware of the health risks involved with each treatment and product you intend to use. You should always follow recommendations for application/exposure times and carry out patch tests where necessary because a few extra minutes out of your day could save you a lot of pain and suffering in the future.

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