Warning for women over laser clinics

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Warning for women over laser clinics
Sun 26 Aug 2007
KATE FOSTER
Scotsman.com

LASER treatment to remove unwanted hair poses a potentially serious risk to health, a consumer watchdog warned last night.

Laser hair removal has become one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatments in the UK, but Which? says patients could suffer third-degree burns and permanent scarring as a result.

The treatment promises a permanent solution to unwanted hair, but Which? says it has received complaints from dozens of people who have been burned as a result of poorly trained staff carrying out the procedure.

The consumer group says there are hundreds of clinics in Scotland that are not regulated or licensed and is calling on the Scottish government to take urgent action.

There are around 750 laser hair removal clinics across Scotland, operating out of hospitals, high-street surgeries and beauty salons, with treatment carried out by doctors, nurses or beauty therapists.

While many of them operate safely and employ properly trained staff, there is no requirement for them to be registered with the Scottish government's health regulator, the Care Commission, which means that unlike doctors carrying out cosmetic surgery they are not forced to comply with basic safety standards. The UK laser hair removal market is worth £41m and industry insiders say many beauty therapists are simply buying lasers on the internet and operating them out of their salons in order to get a share of the lucrative business.

Frances Blunden, health campaigner for Which?, said: "We believe that the regulations currently covering these procedures are inadequate and not fully enforced. This is leaving many people at risk of visiting a practitioner who does not fully explain or understand the risks involved.

"In fact, we have heard from a number of people who have been badly burned, scarred or blistered when having laser hair removal. There is a particular issue around the risk of burns and we have heard from customers who have had second and third-degree burns as a result of laser hair removal.

"It is being increasingly promoted as a treatment that results in virtually permanent hair reduction and its big advantage over other types of hair removal is that it can be used to treat large areas such as the legs, underarms and bikini line."

She added: "It sounds great but it needs to be used by properly trained staff. People tend to think that it is non-invasive, but lasers burn and cut through things.

"This is serious equipment with serious effects if used incorrectly. Our view is that these clinics should be regulated."

Laser hair removal can cost £300-£500 to eliminate hair from one area, which is done in six half-hour sessions over six months. In 2005, around 166,000 treatments were carried out across the UK.

One patient who complained to Which? said she had been left burned and blistered after the treatment.

The patient, who asked not to be identified, said: "I have had laser hair removal but I feel this has made my problem worse and caused stimulation to other hair follicles. This has made me very depressed.

"I would never recommend this treatment to anyone. Also I had a treatment four days ago and a different nurse did the treatment and has burned my face. It has blistered and I have been in excruciating pain. I think this treatment should be taken off the market."

A straw poll of clinics by Scotland on Sunday found wide variations in the service. One refused to give a price estimate without first seeing the patient in the surgery for a consultation, while others were happy to give quotes over the phone. In some cases the laser was operated by a doctor and in other cases a nurse.

Graham Miller, business manager for the UK-wide cosmetic treatment chain sk:n clinics, said his firm was one of the few which is registered with the Care Commission. He said he was concerned about the number of unregulated surgeries offering the service.

"The problem is making sure the operator is trained to use the machine. For example, you get beauty therapists buying a laser machine on the internet and using it out of a back room in their salon, whereas it ought to be overseen by a doctor. The energy from the laser has to be carefully matched with the client's skin type, otherwise the lasers can inflict serious burns."

Susan Brimelow, director of healthcare regulation for the Care Commission, said: "At some point in the future, independent clinics providing cosmetic treatments will also be regulated by the Care Commission. The commencement date for that has not yet been determined."

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "We accept the need to look at safeguards more widely.

"That is why we have established a Scottish Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee working group to explore the issues around regulation and provision of cosmetic surgery in Scotland.

"This includes surgery, injection of botulinum toxin and fillers, and the use of lasers for cosmetic purposes."

Yesterday a search by Scotland on Sunday found several permanent hair-removing lasers for sale on the internet site eBay for around £150.

Side effects
LASER hair removal is just the latest cosmetic treatment to spark health concerns:

BOTOX
Popularly sold under the brand name Botox, botulinum toxin is a poison. It is injected into the face to smooth out wrinkles and works by preventing the muscles from contracting. As well as concerns about allergy, infection and bleeding or damage to tissue by the needle, injecting this drug into the bloodstream can be dangerous. Extensive facial relaxation may cause loss of expression, leading to a mask-like appearance.

COLLAGEN IMPLANTS
An injection of collagen into the lips can make them fuller. Collagen is derived from the connective tissue of cows. However complications include an allergic reaction, and asymmetrical or swollen lips. In 2003 the actress Leslie Ash's had collagen lip implants which left her with a "trout pout".

LASER EYE SURGERY
Used to correct vision and eliminate the need for glasses. Although the chances of complications are minimal, there is a risk of infection and there is no way to predict how the eye will respond to the surgery. Some patients find their vision is worse than it was before surgery and some have problems with night vision.

TEETH WHITENING
Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing professional teeth bleaching in an attempt to have a Hollywood smile. Under the procedure a dentist applies the whitening product, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, using a tray in the mouth. However some people find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment.

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1356162007

Last updated: 25-Aug-07 00:56 BST

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