Materia Medica Malaysiana

Call to regulate beauty salons

Beauty salons providing anti-ageing treatment must be regulated and aestheticians should undergo a degree programme to ensure that they are qualified to carry out these procedures, said the President of the Society of Anti-Aging Medicine Malaysia (SAAMM), Datuk Dr S. Harnam (right) said today.
The mushrooming of beauty salons in the country promoting anti-ageing is a strong indication of how anxious Malaysians are about looking young and the amount of money they are willing to spend for the desired results.
“It is a big industry worth billions in Japan and Korea and Malaysia is also catching up fast,” said Dr Harnam, when asked for his comment on the obsession of looking young.
He was at the three-day 2nd Malaysian Conference and Exhibition on Anti-Aging Medicine which began in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He said affluence and knowledge that anti-aging facilities are available, plus the fact that more people can afford them are factors contributing to this trend.
Although he was unable to provide figures, he stressed that there should be greater control of beauty house and salons by the authorities.
In the last decade, Dr Harnam said beauty and aesthetic salons have sprung in several parts of the country especially in the Klang Valley and because they deal with people’s looks and lives, they should be regulated said the ear, nose and throat surgeon.
“The whole cosmetic industry must be regulated by laws because ultimately, what we want to achieve is that no harm is done to a person’s face and body,” he said.
He said SAAMM has suggested that those who want to undertake anti-aging procedures, should complete a degree programme and he expects this proposal would be implemented soon.
The three-day conference and exhibition aims to address medical guidance for older adults or the aged to stay healthy and active well into their prime of their lives.
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine chairman Dr Robert Goldman advocates exercise to keep one’s self young. “Exercise and eating a healthy diet controls the diseases of aging,” he said.
“The aim of anti-aging medicine is not only to slow down the aging process but also to keep the body functioning at at its optimum level,” said Dr Goldman to the 100-odd participants in his keynote address.
Another culprit of aging is the sun’s rays, he said, adding that one should avoid too much sun. He also advised people to apply sun-tan lotions and moisturisers for protection.
Another speaker, the Ministry of Health’s Family Health Development Programme director Datuk Dr Narimah Awin, said that as life has become better with the improvement of social and economic infrastructures, people live longer.
“That is why, on the average, women here live to about 75 years, and men to 71,” she said.
However, said Dr Narimah, there is room for improvement to make public places, transport and housing age-friendly.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by year 2025 the planet will have eight billion residents.
By that time the number of people above 65 will reach 800 million. According to the United Nations, by the year 2300 life expectancy in Western Europe will reach 106 years, followed by 98 for Latin America and the Caribbean and 96 years for Asia and 92 years for Africa.