Call for ban on cosmetic injectables for under 18s

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is demanding that the Government make non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as botox and dermal filler illegal for those under 18, a move it says is supported by the majority (87%) of the public.

The calls were made in a recent report examining the health risks associated with tattoos, piercings and other treatments that compromise the skin barrier. The public health organisation raised concerns that reality TV programmes, such as Love Island, were making such treatments more popular with teenagers and warned that cosmetic procedures can trigger health problems if conducted by untrained or rogue practitioners, including infections, sepsis, scarring and even blindness.

Head of the RSPH, Shirley Cramer, has branded the current rules surrounding injectables as “unfit for purpose”, adding, “the regulation of providers of these services is markedly different across the UK”. 

Spokesperson Duncan Stephenson added, “A desire to resort to quick fixes among the selfie generation has led to a massive increase in demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, especially lip fillers.

“There is huge pressure on young people to conform to the unrealistic and unattainable ideals they see on Instagram and shows like Love Island, but there are no age restrictions on non-surgical procedures. It means any 15-year-old schoolgirl could just walk into a shop and get their lips injected.” 

This follows a similar annoucment by the Irish Government’s minister for health, Simon Harris, who is also considering an age restriction on cosmetic procedures, including banning botox and fillers for under 18s. 

He said that increasing concern about standards in some parts of the industry has led him to ask health officials to investigate if there needs to be tighter regulations.

“It is clear this is a growing industry across all age groups and all sexes,” he noted. “While the profession and the products are regulated, I am conscious this is an industry that is continuing to grow and, particularly worryingly, it is targeting young men and women. There are a number of reasons for this, including a desire by young men and women to be perfect, driven by social media. 

“But there are also companies and professionals who are exploiting that for their own gain. There is a need to examine whether current regulations are sufficient or whether further regulation is required. This is not an issue solely confined to Ireland but one I believe we need to address as a matter of priority.”

He hopes an age ban will benefit young people in the same way as the sunbed ban of 2015.