Guidelines On Advertisements Claiming A Relation To Medical Profession

(Note: This set of guidelines is used by MoH.)

Objective:

  1. To better regulate claims in advertisements which imply a relation to the medical procedures. (The rationale is to protect a section of the public or which for e.g. are not aware of the difference between a PHD and a MD and hence confer an undue legitimacy to the title "Dr").
  1. To clarify MOH’s regulations toward - Beauty, Cosmetic, Hair and Slimming advertisement claims.

  1. Medical Professional as reference
  1. The list of 29 sub-specialties of Medicine which contain the title of medical professionals of specialized fields, for e.g are "promoted by Dr Geoffrey, a dermatologist" etc., cannot be advertised to be providing a service in a beauty treatment house.
  1. No product should imply any medical endorsement in their advertising.

 

  1. Generic Claims
  1. Generic claims like "dermatologically-tested" or ‘recommended by dermatologists" are permissible.
  1. The term "Treatment" is not a generic term is not permissible.

 

  1. Company Names
  1. Company name should be regulated. Terms like Hospital, Clinic or Medical Clinic as well as Dr. or doctor, are prohibited as part of company name. Existing company name with "Dr." has medical implications should not be allowed and should be changed.
  1. To comply with 2.2, Company name should not contain the term "treatment" which could be misleading.

 

  1. Hair Growth Advertisement
  1. "Before" and "After" illustration is allowed if the advertiser make it very clear that it is due to hair-weaving and not due to hair growth. The terms "before weaving" and "after weaving" have to be prominent enough. A minimal point-size has to be followed. (e.g those for GST, prices and percentage discount).
  1. The term "herbal treatment" is allowed but not "herbal weaving". The claims have to be separated to read "herbal treatment and weaving".
  1. "Trichologist" is not recognized medical profession. The word should be removed from all hair treatment advertisement. However, an asterisk can be inserted after the word "Trichologist" to explain the profession.

 

  1. Beauty Treatment Advertisements
  1. Beauty saloons cannot claim to treat "acne" and "pimple". No illustration pertaining to acne and pimple is allowed. Treatment of acne scars are allowed.
  1. "Aging", "Effectively reduces the look of aging" both statements are not allowed. Premature aging is allowed [to be stated].

  1. The term "Wrinkles" is permissible.
  1. "Cellulite" is not being controlled at the moment.
  1. "Professional laser therapy" is not allowed.
  1. "Shapes" bust is not allowed. "Tones" "Firms" bust is allowed.
  1. Beauty centers are allowed to use only AHA 10%, but not more than 10%. Due to the fact that AHA 10% can never achieve a drastic improvement, therefore beauty centers are not allowed to advertise using illustrations which shows a drastic improvement.
  1. Illustration of skin exfoliation which shows drastic skin improvements should not be allowed, mild improvements can be shown.
  1. Permanent eye-lid shaping service cannot be advertised unless it is shown to be non-surgical.
  1. Advertisement for the upper and lower eye-lids tattoo and lip-tattoo re not allowed. Eye-brow tattoo is allowed.
Page last revised: 18 January 2000
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