Health warning over cut-price Botox in UK beauty salons

• Rochdale Council seized unlicensed, poorly labelled Botox from five salons during checks
• Salons were reported to MHRA, though no evidence of treatment for under-18s was found
• Public urged to choose qualified, insured professionals and avoid risky, cheap treatments

Rochdale Borough Council has recently issued health warnings after officers obtained unlicensed and cheap Botox in a few beauty salons.

Five salons in the town used and promoted these products.

It came after routine checks conducted by the council to ensure Botox was not administered on people below the age of 18.

Overseas anti-wrinkle and filler injections with no English labels or instructions were immediately seized.

The poor labelling is a sign of potential harm they can cause to the users.

The salons were reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute.

However, the names of the salons are not yet revealed. There is a lack of evidence regarding the administration of Botox in underage customers by them.

With the issue, council has urged the people to be more cautious regarding such treatments.

The council stressed that Botulinum toxic or Botox is a prescription only product under the regulation of MHRA.

People are asked to get procedures done under trained and experienced professionals, with insurance arrangements. They must undergo a face-to-face pre-consultation with the prescriber to ensure the product is suitable.

The prescriber must strictly be a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or a pharmacist prescriber.

"Know who your prescriber is and who will be administering your treatment. The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serious health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant," said Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council.