Beauty at a cost: Karnataka cracks down on dubious skin clinics amid rising mishaps

Bengaluru: The Karnataka health department has launched a crackdown on hair and skin clinics operating without registration under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act or employing unqualified doctors for specialised treatments.

With growing interest in skincare, particularly among youngsters, such clinics have mushroomed across the state. Many of them rely on cosmetologists who lack the expertise to handle dermatological procedures, putting patients at risk.

To prevent mishaps, the department has directed all District Health Officers (DHOs) to inspect these establishments.

"We have asked all the DHOs to conduct an inspection and report back. At present, we do not have data on how many such clinics exist since KPME registration only categorises them as polyclinics. The inspection will help streamline activities,” said Dr Vivek Dorai, Deputy Director (KPME).

The health department is also considering new standards for operation of such establishments. 

"We are in the process of defining higher standards for such facilities. We are also planning to prescribe accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) before granting registration,” said Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health Department).

Lack of expertise in these clinics has led to serious consequences. Patients have suffered burns, pigmentation, and severe side effects.

In 2022, a Kannada serial actor died following a botched procedure at one such centre.

"We get numerous cases where patients are affected due to substandard treatment by untrained staff. Recently, I treated a patient with face burns caused by such a clinic. She had to be admitted and put on antibiotics. Treatment by uncertified staff can be dangerous,” said Dr Manjunath Hulmani, president of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists–Karnataka Branch (IADVL-KN).

He stressed that medical training was essential to ensure the underlying causes are addressed and treatments are performed correctly.

"There is a method for every treatment, and it must be followed . A cosmetologist with just a short-course certificate does not possess the medical expertise to handle these procedures," he added. 

The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over the rise of quackery in the skincare sector.

Over 400 quack clinics across Karnataka

An inspection by the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists–Karnataka Branch (IADVL-KN) revealed that more than 400 quack skincare centres are operating in the state, nearly 200 of them in Bengaluru.

These centres, run without qualified dermatologists, lure customers by promising “miraculous” results.