Government of India Cracks Down on Injectable Beauty Treatments: Why Only Qualified Doctors Should Perform Aesthetic Injectables

BIG and much-needed decision by the Government of India

And today, I am genuinely happy that CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) has drawn a clear legal line. Cosmetics are products meant to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed, or externally applied for beautification. They are NOT meant to be injected into the body. This clarification is a huge step toward protecting public health and taking legal action against misuse of injectables in non-medical settings. I thank the Government of India for acting before more people suffer due to unsafe practices.

For years, I have strongly believed and openly said that injectables should NEVER be done by beauticians, salons, parlours, makeup artists, or untrained non-medical people. Whenever students or clients asked us about learning injectables, IV drips, glutathione drips, or similar procedures, our answer was always clear: please go to a qualified doctor.

I have attended many medico-legal conferences and lectures conducted by some of the top advocates in the country, and one thing has always stayed with me—when a medical professional goes wrong in a procedure, the legal consequences can be severe. I used to wonder what makes some beauty professionals so confident in crossing into this space when the law clearly treats these as medical procedures and regulates them accordingly.

Even when I discussed this with friends in my fraternity, I was often told, “We keep a nurse for injecting in our salon.” But the law does not work that way. If such a procedure is being done under your roof, in your premises, or within your establishment, responsibility does not simply disappear because someone else administered it.

People must understand one important truth: anything that enters your bloodstream is not “just for the skin.” Once injected, it circulates through your body and involves your entire system. Your liver has to metabolize substances, your kidneys help filter and eliminate waste, your heart circulates it, and your body as a whole responds to it. This is not the same as applying a serum or cream on the skin. Whether it is glutathione drips, anti-ageing injections, fillers, boosters, or any other injectable treatment—these are not beauty fads to be taken casually. Every injectable procedure carries responsibility, science, risk, and medical implications.

Today, social media has made IV drips, “beauty jabs,” skin brightening injections, anti-ageing cocktails, and quick-fix aesthetic treatments look glamorous. But the body is not a trial lab.

And now, another disturbing trend is emerging—IV drip bars at weddings, pre-wedding functions, parties, and hangover recovery lounges. Agencies are reportedly approaching event planners and selling the idea that people can drink excessively and then “recover” with drips the next morning or even at the venue itself. This sends a very dangerous message to young people—that you can stress your body with alcohol and then simply “fix it” with another drip. The human body does not work like that.

Alcohol affects the liver, hydration, electrolytes, brain function, and the entire system. An IV drip is not a magic eraser for alcohol intoxication or lifestyle excess. Casualizing medical interventions in party culture is a very worrying trend, especially for the younger generation. We should not normalize drink heavily first, inject later as a lifestyle practice.

With the lifestyle stress we already have, junk food, supplements, self-medication, protein powders, alcohol, and unnecessary interventions, we must think carefully before adding more substances into the bloodstream.

Another important fact people need to understand is this: just because a product label, trainer, company, or marketing brochure says it can be injected, microneedled into the skin, or administered through a drip does NOT automatically make it medically safe, legally approved, or meant to be introduced into the human body. This is where many beauty and aesthetic professionals get misled.

Today, there is a worrying trend of people rushing into “advanced aesthetics” in 5-day or 10-day courses, without proper understanding of skin anatomy, physiology, contraindications, complications, hygiene protocols, emergency handling, or boundaries of practice. Many are learning procedures without first understanding the science of skin and without real experience in handling skin or hair conditions. The biggest problem is that nobody teaches where to stop. What is the boundary of a beautician? What is the scope of an aesthetician? When does a cosmetic service become a medical procedure? These are serious questions.

The aesthetic industry needs skill, ethics, education, and patient safety—not shortcuts, one-day certifications, or social media glamour.

I am sharing the government circular link as well. It is a detailed document that explains what legally falls under cosmetics, what falls under drugs, and why this distinction matters for public safety. It also brings much-needed clarity on procedures and substances being misused in the cosmetic space. Exosomes, PDRN, salmon DNA, glutathione drips, injectable boosters, microneedling-related injectable misuse, and similar products should not be used casually just because they are trending or marketed aggressively. They must have proper legal approval, proper indication, and must be handled only by qualified medical professionals working within their legal scope of practice.

The circular also defines responsibilities and rules for manufacturers, importers, practitioners, and users—making it clear that public safety cannot be compromised for trends or commercial gains.

What has to be done by a doctor should be done by a doctor.

What has to be done by a beautician or aesthetician should be done by a beautician.

Let us not cross professional boundaries.

Health is precious. Beauty should never come at the cost of health.

To know more download the below document THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT, 1940

drug_cosmeticsa1940-23.pdf

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