Are You Using Safe Cosmetics On Your Skin?

By Sakini Mohd Said KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- “I’m only 39 but the wrinkles on my forehead and crow’s feet have become so visible. My freckles seemed to have increased too. I need to go for a facial soon,” my friend Aini lamented as she studied her face in the mirror. The mother of three is known as someone who cares deeply about her appearance. Anyone who knows her would tell you that she would never leave home without fashionable clothes and makeup. She would tote her makeup bag around wherever she goes. “Wrinkles are a normal part of the aging process. As we grow older, the collagen in our skin would diminish,” I told her. Aini disagreed. She believed that something could and should be done before the lines and blemishes multiplied. And so armed with that belief, she underwent several facial procedures at a beauty salon. At first, the treatments seemed to be efficacious. Her complexion was smoother and clearer and her skin was taut, not unlike a 39-year-old’s. Aini was ecstatic. However, her joy did not last. After several treatments, things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. The skin on her face suddenly looked burned and darkened. It was particularly dark around her jaw, so much so that it was beginning to even look like she had formed a stubble. She tried to conceal it with heavy makeup but to no avail. “Did you see those dark patches around Aini’s jaws? That is because of the facial treatments she did. Her skin was initially okay but has now become problematic,” said a mutual friend who sympathised with Aini. Aini had previously shared a video of her procedure as shared by the beauty salon operator on their Instagram account. It looked, to me, like a rather horrifying process. However, those who have become too obsessed with the pursuit of beauty would not think twice when it comes to the pain and risks. What matters to them is only a wrinkle-free skin, whatever the consequences. I was sure that the beauty salon Aini went to was not operated by licensed doctors. They were most likely just beauty and cosmetic enthusiasts without qualifications or expertise in dermatology or parties seeking easy profit without caring about the long term complications their clients would have to endure. This is not something to be taken lightly especially if it involves unlicensed practitioners handling injection needles. We have no idea what products are used during the treatment and if they are registered with the Health Ministry’s Drug Control Authority or otherwise. Unlicensed products are typically unsafe and would most likely contain dangerous chemicals. This means that the products could potentially damage the skin and internal organs of users in the long run. Aini can count herself as lucky as she is still able to disguise the appearance of the scars on her face using makeup. There are others who fared much worse that they have to wear a mask to hide their scars. Earlier this year, medical practitioner Dr Mohd Syamirulah Rahim shared on Facebook a case of a patient of his who had sought treatment for the damaged skin on her face due to beauty treatments that went awry. “Her skin was peeling. There were boils on her face with dried pus the size of 50 sen coins all over her cheeks. Some parts of her face were still red and slimy. There were raised dots at other parts that looked like pimples, but were not pimples. “This is from using products with banned substance, bought from the “pasar malam”. The Ministry of Health confirmed that one of the products contained tretinoin, an ingredient used to treat acne. “However, tretinoin is highly potent with severe side effects and as such its usage is only by prescription by medical specialists,” he wrote. The sad reality is that many more women have bought these fake cosmetic products or sought beauty treatment from unlicensed operators and are suffering the consequences. This is despite the number of exposés in the media of the fake cosmetic scams and the repercussions of using products that have not been approved by the health authorities. The Health Ministry has been relentless in educating the public of the dangerous of fake cosmetics and treatments by unlicensed operators, in addition to beefing up regulations governing the sale of beauty products. However, the situation persists. Fake cosmetic products are still flooding the market and sold brazenly online and in stores, advertised through dubious testimonies. Hopeful women easily fall prey to businesses advertising beauty treatments at rock bottom prices, gambling away their health and even lives. According to the Health Director General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, cosmetic products mixed with mercury could easily be absorbed by the skin and into the system, ultimately causing renal failure and damage to the nervous system. It could also hamper brain development in very young or unborn children. In fact, cosmetic products mixed with hydroquinone could prevent pigmentation and reduce the skin’s ability to shield itself from harmful UV rays, increasing the chances of skin cancer. Therefore, consumers must exercise caution and wisdom when selecting cosmetic products. Those who want to look for the notification status of a cosmetic product can do a search on the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau website. Remember that it is never worth risking our health and life for the sake of beauty. We only have one face, so let us be more cautious with what we put on it. (This commentary is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect BERNAMA’s stand or views on the matter) -- BERNAMA