Going only by the commercials while considering a beauty product is not a good idea. Commercials are designed to sell the products and have no intention of telling the buyers about their harmful effects. It is up to the buyer to take a call because substandard beautification products can have multiple effects on the skin, sometimes causing substantial damage to the cells, thus deforming the skin texture.
It also applies to those who buy cheaper products and near-expiry cosmetics to save a few bucks and those who resort to improper use of the same, according to experts in derma care.
Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the two-day 7th OmanDerm International Conference and Exhibition, Dr Asma al Numani (pictured), Consultant Dermatologist at Al Nahdha Hospital, said that products bought online seeing their advertisements have no authenticity and may impact adversely.
"These products may have different chemical ingredients; some may need prescription while others are OTC (over the counter). Many products are mixed in a container, and we are not sure about their medicinal value. Hence, buying such beautification products online is a bit risky," she said.
Dr Asma feels that henna as a herb is okay to use, but when it is mixed with chemicals for better results, it can cause allergies.
"I would advise all to buy products from a good source and check their ingredients in the catalogue before using them. By and large, awareness is the key to using good quality products and 'let the customer beware' is applicable in this case too," she said, adding that "different pharmaceutical companies have different products, and it is not necessary for an expensive product to be of good quality and vice versa. My advice to the people is to differentiate between the products meant for treating and enhancing beauty." About the dermatological issues in Oman, Dr Asma said just as any country has dermatological concerns, Oman too has its own set of derma issues, and they vary from person to person mostly seen concerns are hyper pigmentation which is also called melasma, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, and the like.
"Each disease comes with challenges for the patients as well as the healthcare professional in particular; most skin issues, such as vitiligo, psoriasis, and acne, are chronic. Such diseases have psychological impacts as well, such as the stigma associated with it in the patient.
Genetic disorders include a blistering disorder called epidermolysis bullosa, a rare condition that causes fragile, blistering skin. The blisters may appear in response to a minor injury, even from heat, rubbing or scratching. In severe cases, the blisters may occur inside the body, such as the mouth or stomach lining, a genetic disorder common in the region because it is genetically mainly linked to consanguineous marriages.
"We counsel the families when we see such cases in inter-family marriages. We believe that education and awareness are required to control such skin diseases. When we diagnose any skin disorder linked to genetic origin, it is a multidisciplinary approach to address the issue of what is required, and they check the patient's pedigree," Dr Asma al Numani added.
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