Improper practices in skin treatment, leading to serious health problems

 Improper practices in skin treatment, leading to serious health problems

Prof. Dr. Karna said that unethical practices in the treatment of skin diseases by non-medical and unauthorized organizations are increasing in Nepal.

He said, ‘Skin treatment is now more focused on aesthetics, that is, beauty.’

He warned that indiscriminate use of laser treatment without expertise and correct information will increase health risks.

If you have any health problem, we will definitely seek out a specialist doctor for treatment as much as possible. If we cannot find a specialist in the relevant disease, we will go to a general physician who has acquired expertise.

There are many relatives, friends, and patients who come for treatment who inquire about which hospital or clinic has a specialist doctor for which disease.

After getting sick, none of us will get treatment from a non-medical doctor. We will not buy and take medicine without a doctor’s prescription. If you are suffering from heart or kidney disease, you will definitely not buy and take medicine without a doctor’s advice.

However, although some caution is taken in the use of internal medicine, most patients are negligent in the use of external medicines such as skin diseases and treatment methods.

Of course, in the skin! Serious health problems are found in getting treatment in a non-medical and unscientific manner, wondering what difference it will make. The unscientific and unprofessional practices being carried out in the name of treating skin diseases by beauty centers, beauty parlors and unauthorized institutions have worried doctors who have specialized in skin diseases.

Medical science is a field that is constantly being refined and refined through study and practice. You cannot become a doctor by passing MBBS. After passing MBBS, you also have to pass the licensing exam conducted by the Nepal Medical Council to prove your eligibility to treat patients.

After MBBS, you have to study further to do MD and PhD and be involved in regular patient treatment. It takes at least 10 to 12 years for a person studying medical science to become a specialist doctor in a disease. Even after gaining expertise, one does not know everything.

As treatment methods change and new diseases continue to emerge, even specialist doctors need to continue studying their subject. For doctors, every new case and patient is a subject of study. Therefore, getting any health problem treated by a non-physician or unspecialized person is playing with health. It is putting lives at risk.

Unethical practices in skin disease treatment

Unethical practices are now rampant in skin disease and beauty-related treatments in Nepal. Especially, people who are not doctors are presenting themselves as 'skin specialists' and giving injections, prescribing medicines, using treatment methods such as laser, plasma, PRP.

As a result, cases of skin scarring, infection, skin thinning, long-term complications, and even putting the patient's life at risk are increasing.

Skin disease treatment is now more focused on aesthetics, i.e. beauty. Especially women are undergoing non-medical and non-scientific treatments to make their faces bright and fair.

They are promoting treatment methods through attractive advertisements on social media and videos claiming to be beauty experts. In this way, many are losing their beauty and creating a situation where more complex skin problems appear.

Indiscriminate use of laser

Laser is a method of treatment through rays. In this, treatment is done through electromagnetic radiation from a special type of machine. A special type of artificial light, which, when collected with the help of a machine, releases a specific type of energy, is used in this method through that energy.

Lasers are used to cut, pierce, puncture, damage and stimulate an organ. This method, which was first used in eye surgery, is now used to treat various parts of the human body.

Lasers have been used for various skin problems since 1960. After it started being used in skin treatment, lasers also started being associated with cosmetic purposes.

There are two types of lasers, ablative and nonablative. Ablative lasers create a wound in the upper layer of the skin. Nonablative lasers affect the skin without creating a wound in the upper layer of the skin. Lasers can be used to remove moles, tattoos, moles, congenital blue moles on the face, and remove unwanted hair.

When ablative laser is used, the type of mole and scar is determined after temporary anesthesia is given to the area to be lasered. The laser removes 'unwanted tissue' through a beam. In this method, although it is not like a blade, a type of surgery is performed on the area where the scar and stain are.

Only a specialist doctor can determine which type of laser to use for which problem, among CO2, Erbium YAG, Nd YAG, etc. Currently, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), which is a type of device, is being promoted as a laser.

Many are losing the beauty of their skin due to misleading propaganda that lasers can cure various skin diseases in an instant, just like magic. IPL is the only Messi Different wavelengths are fixed for hair removal, acne removal, freckle removal, and wrinkle removal. Those who have received general training are using it indiscriminately.

Even beauty parlors have started providing services by installing such IPL machines for hair removal and wrinkle removal, which has created more confusion and confusion. In fact, this is not a laser.

Different wavelengths are set according to the type of laser. Using a laser without knowing which wavelength laser should be used for which problem can have negative effects.

If someone is using a laser for skin problems, it is important that they gain good knowledge about the laser and that they are also a dermatologist. Lasers should not be used indiscriminately, thinking, ‘It is a machine, anyone can use it after learning.’

A single state-of-the-art laser machine costs up to one crore rupees. Therefore, it is important to understand that lasers are not available everywhere. Many people have misconceptions about lasers because many people promote the IPL machine as a laser.

Dermatologists also need to obtain separate training in lasers. Being a doctor does not mean that you can do lasers or that you can do them. Lasers should be used in treatment only after acquiring special skills and knowledge about lasers. Non-physicians who have the skills to take care of non-living parts of the body such as hair, nails, etc.

Using a sensitive device like a laser that can only be used by specialist doctors after receiving training is a serious unethical practice in the health sector.