The Cosmetic Physicians Society of Australasia (CPSA) is praising a recent investigation by consumer magazine CHOICE into Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser regulation.
The investigation recommends regulation for this industry is increased, which is in line with the CPSA’s call for national regulations to be introduced.
Work on establishing a national framework has been stalled, with the current regulator – the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) - claiming there is not enough published evidence to support the introduction of mandatory training or licensing.
I think it is surprising that ARPANSA claims it can’t find enough published evidence to support regulation, but we are in the process of collecting documents to provide the agency with the published clinical evidence that it says is necessary for a Regulatory Impact Statement to be developed,” says CPSA president Dr Gabrielle Caswell.
The use of IPL and laser devices is currently unregulated in both NSW and Victoria, with the governments announcing they are waiting for the outcome of the national process.
Anyone can now buy an IPL or laser device and set themselves up without requiring training or insurance – this situation really puts patients at risk,” says Dr Caswell.
These treatments have a real potential to be harmful if not administered correctly – and there’s no requirement for non-medical personnel to receive informed consent, so people often aren’t aware of the risks.
These risks include inappropriate treatment of pre-skin cancers, and some forms of skin cancers, and burns which can leave scarring.”
