Latest news with #beauticians
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Health officials were warned of rogue Botox beauticians a YEAR ago - but failed to act
Drug safety chiefs were warned last year about rogue beauty therapists injecting illegal Botox-style products but failed to act before the jabs hospitalised dozens. The procedures, carried out by beauticians using unlicensed versions of botulinum toxin, left 38 people across the North East, North West, East of England and Midlands seriously ill with paralysis-like symptoms and breathing difficulties. The alarming outbreak this month has exposed 'gaping holes' in regulation, claim senior doctors now calling on the Government to ban medically unqualified practitioners from administering cosmetic injections. Dr Steven Land, a Newcastle-based expert in aesthetic medicine, said he first raised concerns in November 2023 with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 'Our only surprise is that this didn't happen sooner,' he said. 'I was getting WhatsApp messages and emails every week from people selling knock-off toxin – illegal, unlicensed products that you can buy online with no checks.' Dr Land said he provided the MHRA with names, phone numbers, pricing information and screenshots of practitioners openly advertising cut-price anti-wrinkle jabs using unlicensed botulinum toxin. He added: 'When I followed up in April, they told me the matter would be dealt with 'in due course'. Nothing happened. If action had been taken when I raised the alarm, dozens might not have ended up in hospital.' MHRA was asked to comment. Due to the severity of the situation, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced this month it had launched an inquiry. The practitioners involved are said to be cooperating, although no further detail has been given. Dr Land said two beauty therapists operating in his area had been identified as the primary source of the outbreak. Both had used a Korean-manufactured product called Toxpia. 'Neither had any medical qualifications – just basic beauty therapy training – and both were injecting clients in salons and private homes using the same unlicensed product,' he said. 'We believe they were buying this toxin online and administering it with no clinical oversight.' HJ Corporations Co. Ltd, the maker of Toxpia, was approached for comment. More than seven million people in the UK undergo cosmetic treatments – including Botox and fillers – each year and demand is growing. The industry is now worth an estimated £3.6billion. Yet in Britain, anyone can legally offer cosmetic injections regardless of medical training – a situation many doctors have long condemned. A recent study by University College London found that two in three procedures are carried out by non-medics, including hairdressers and beauty therapists. Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, president of the Royal Society of Medicine Section of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, said: 'The current situation is quite terrifying. It is irresponsible for the Government to allow this to continue. 'Britain is the odd man out in Europe in allowing non-medics to perform these procedures.' Dr Rowland Payne, who gave evidence to the women and equalities committee on the issue, also highlighted the stark differences in training between medics and non-medics offering Botox. Botulinum toxin – the active ingredient in Botox – is one of the most powerful poisons known, being found in soil and contaminated food. When consumed, it can cause botulism – a potentially fatal illness that leads to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure. Its potency is staggering: gram-for-gram, botulinum toxin is estimated to be 100,000 times more toxic than cyanide. Experts stress that the risk is not with approved brands – such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau – but with counterfeit or unlicensed versions used by untrained individuals. Toxpia is not licensed for use in the UK though industry insiders say it is available to buy online. In 2023, the Government launched a consultation on new rules for the aesthetics sector and Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested this month a crackdown was imminent. Kaylie Bailey, 36, from Peterlee, County Durham, was left fighting for her life and now wears an eye patch after developing paralysis and losing the ability to breathe. She had paid £75 for cut-price anti-wrinkle jabs from beautician Gemma Gray – who has since admitted the product caused widespread harm but claimed it was a 'nationwide problem'. 'I remember lying on the bed thinking 'I'm dying',' added Ms Bailey, who spent three days in intensive care with botulism. We're having to live with what she [the beautician] did to us. I nearly died because of it.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coronation Street star heartbroken as business burns down in 'devastating' fire
ITV Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote has shared that her business has burned down in a tragic fire. The 34-year-old soap star, best known for playing Katy Armstrong, took to Instagram to share the news with followers. Sharing in a video: "Now as some of you may know I've been a nail technician now for the past 4 years alongside my acting. "Unfortunately, my beautiful little studio was affected by a huge fire within the storage world unit in Middleton last night. "Not only has my business burnt down, but so has many other peoples. "Along with peoples most loved possessions. My heart goes out to them all." The Corrie star added: "Even though as beauticians we can move into a new space, our stock and tools, which we spend years collecting have all gone. We can no longer work. "My friends and fellow beauticians have to literally start again. "With no way of even making the money to buy these tools. "Some of them have children. "I am asking if you could please help us all by just giving a little towards helping my friends rebuild their business. "We would be eternally grateful. "Fire is the most devastating thing. Thousands of pounds of stock has gone in seconds." Followers of the ITV star shared their support, with one sharing: "This is sad to hear." Recommended Reading Coronation Street star's future on the ITV show confirmed amid 'mass exits' Coronation Street fans slam 'unlikeable' and 'obnoxious' character Corrie star opens up about emergency A&E visit for 'dangerous' condition Another wrote: "Sending you all so much love, this is just heartbreaking." A third said: "I'm so sorry to hear this devastating news! Hope everyone is alright. It can be such a traumatising thing to go through." Georgia left Coronation Street several years ago and went on to take part in Strictly Come Dancing, where she finished as a runner-up.
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan to export female beauticians to Saudi Arabia — state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) will send skilled female beauticians to Saudi Arabia in response to a demand from a private firm in the Kingdom, state media reported on Friday, outlining the qualifications required for applicants. The initiative comes as part of Pakistan's long-standing labor export relationship with Saudi Arabia, which remains the top destination for Pakistani workers and contributes over $700 million in monthly remittances to the South Asian country. Pakistan regularly sends skilled labor to Gulf nations, including medical professionals, engineers and technicians. The latest move targets the beauty and personal care sector. 'Overseas Employment Corporation, an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, will export skilled workers (female beauticians) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. It informed a Saudi firm is seeking beauticians for various roles, including senior hairdresser, nail technician (gel and acrylic), eyelash specialist, makeup artist, waxing and bleaching specialist and wig technician. The required qualifications include a minimum of three years' experience and an age limit of under 40 years. APP said the firm will offer senior beauticians a monthly salary of 3,000 Saudi Riyals or approximately $800. Employees will also receive free shared accommodation with furnishings and air conditioning, food allowance, and round-trip airfare, along with surface transport within Saudi Arabia if needed. The news report said applications must be submitted via the OEC website by June 8. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy robust economic, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom hosts over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and remains the largest source of remittances to Pakistan, a crucial lifeline for the country's cash-strapped economy.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
This is the strange mark on my big toe that my nail technician told me to get checked out... she saved my life
They trim our hair, polish our nails and ease our tired muscles – but beauticians, manicurists, hairdressers and barbers can do far more than that. In fact, many are now trained to potentially save our lives.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Beauticians who carry out Botox procedures face being fined thousands of pounds for saying they are 'nurses'
The job title 'nurse' is set to be protected by law so that anyone using it must be registered or face thousands of pounds in fines. New legislation being drafted by the Government will prevent beauticians who carry out Botox procedures from claiming to be nurses. It will also apply to the more than 8,000 staff in the NHS who have 'nurse' in their title but no formal nursing qualifications. These include workers with titles such as 'assistant nurse practitioner' and 'clinical support nurse'. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'I've been appalled to read reports of so-called nurses spreading dangerous misinformation and harming the public. This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians... and those attempting to mislead patients. 'British people hold nurses in the highest regard, and we trust them in our most vulnerable moments, so patients need to know they are genuinely being seen by a nurse.' Currently anyone – including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for misconduct or criminal convictions – can call themselves a nurse, and only be prosecuted if they harm patients. Paul Rees, NMC chief executive, said: 'The public should always feel confident that anyone using the title 'nurse' is a registered professional with all the safeguards that brings. We look forward to working with the Government and our stakeholders to deliver [this].' Health Secretary Wes Streeting said 'this new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians... and those attempting to mislead patients' Nicola Ranger, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing union, called the announcement 'an important moment for our safety-critical profession', adding: 'A change in the law... will provide better legal protections for nurses and reassurance to patients.' London South Bank University professor Alison Leary, of the #ProtectNurses campaign, whose petition for the protection of the title appeared on the Government's website, said: 'We were approached by patients and families who felt they had been misled, sometimes with catastrophic consequences.'
