Beauticians can harm your health, doctor says

If your beautician does more than make your face up or fix your hair, he or she may be doing you more harm than good.

Cosmetologists and "pseudo-dermatologists" can damage their clients’ skin because they are not qualified to treat diseases and disorders of the skin and hair, said dermatologist Dr. Monina Macam of the Philippine Society for Cutaneous Medicine (PSCM).

"Beauty parlors should only be a place where one can get made up with cosmetics or get one’s hair fixed. But if one has problems with their skin – such as pimples and acne – and they want it gone, they should go to a dermatologist," Macam said.

She noted that most patients who go to her fellow licensed dermatologists – doctors who specialized in treating maladies of the skin, hair and nails – are those who suffered at the hands of these "pseudo-dermatologists."

"The problem with cosmetologists such as make-up ‘artists’ and hairdressers is that they overstep their boundaries and (go) into the treatment of skin ailments and diseases, where they are not really experts, to the detriment of their customer," Macam said.

She added that these patients usually come to them suffering from acne cosmetica, contact dermatitis, and infectious skin diseases caused by the uninformed application of cosmetics, "beauty" lotions and creams, or even facials.

Acne cosmetica usually develops when the skin is exposed to facials or make-up that use acne-causing chemicals, usually in creams or lotions. These chemicals clog up the skin pores and the hair follicles, causing black or white heads, acne, and popules colloquially known as "butlig-butlig."

Macam said that cosmetologists are "braver" in experimenting with the latest beauty creams, lotions and procedures on their clients since they cannot be held liable for the damage wrought on their clients’ skin. These clients come in for repairs to the nearest dermatologist.

She noted that dermatologists – unlike cosmetologists – will not promise to turn a dark-complexioned person into a mestiza in a week. They will, instead, ensure that the person’s skin can be as fair as can be, given his or her natural complexion.

Dermatologists will also ensure that their patient’s skin will be healthy and free from pimples and acne.