Facial tissue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A box of tissues
Enlarge
A box of tissues
Another Box of Tissues.
Enlarge
Another Box of Tissues.

Cellucotton was originally created as a substitute for cotton during World War I for gas mask filters. Cotton as a natural raw material was in high demand for medicinal purposes among other things during this period. After the war, and some composotional changes Kleenex (the first facial tissue) came to market as a makeup remover. It wasn't until 1930 that the marketing focus of Kleenex changed to that of a disposable handkerchief.

In most parts of the world, handkerchiefs have fallen out of use, except for fashion, and their function has been replaced entirely by facial tissue. More than just a handkerchief, today's facial tissue is now designed to alleviate & prevent stress and sickness by facilitating the expulsion of nasal mucus from the nose (sometimes called nose-blowing). The tissue is a disposable type of paper engineered to be thin and soft for comfort, but extra sturdy for function. Because extraneous mucus is an annoyance and can act as a breeding ground for bacteria[citation needed], facial tissue is a widely used item in households worldwide.

Facial tissue is often referred to for simplicity's sake as a "tissue" or by the brand name "Kleenex" which popularised the invention and its use. The term "paper handkerchief" is also used.

Sometimes toilet paper is used as a substitute, as it is very similar. However, because toilet paper is designed to deteriorate in water, it is much less sturdy, increasing the potential of mucus saturating the nose-blower's hands. Furthermore, some brands of toilet paper are relatively rough and may irritate the nose, although not as badly as paper towels.

[edit] See also

In other languages