Unlicensed Beauty Services Pose Health Risks, Experts Warn

Health experts have raised concern over the growing trend of patronising unqualified individuals for beauty treatments, warning that the practice poses serious health risks and undermines the growth of the industry.

The experts raised these concerns at the Masters of Beauty Symposium and Graduation, themed “Elevating Beauty Industry Standards: The Power of Education, Innovation and Collaboration,” sponsored by UNNO Health Group and Beauty Therapy Institute (BTI), in Abuja.

The founder of UNNO Health Group and convener of the Masters of Beauty, Dr. Hilda Titiloye, said many Nigerians are unknowingly putting their health at risk by patronising beauty providers without proper training or certification.

“People should love themselves first. If you love yourself, you’ll be careful about where you go to seek certain types of care. Seek the professionals,” she said.

Titiloye also highlighted the economic value of natural beauty resources like shea butter and moringa oil, saying they remain underutilized due to lack of documentation. “We need to consciously gather data that will help us make good decisions within the industry,” she added.

According to her, gathering accurate data is essential for making informed decisions around financing, resource allocation, and positioning practitioners for greater impact in the economy.

The founder highlighted that while there were 23 graduants from this maiden edition of the Masters of Beauty, the Beauty Therapy Institute has trained over 200 professionals, equipping them with skills in regenerative and restorative care.

According to her, such training is crucial in reducing health complications associated with unprofessional beauty practices.

She urged that the industry be sanitised through proper education and collaboration to avoid health complications arising from unprofessional care.

Speaking on upholding standards, the Lead Trainer at the institute, Adanma Okoro, emphasised the school’s commitment to ethical practices and scientific knowledge in beauty training. She said students are taught the fundamentals of skin anatomy and the ethics of professional care to ensure they understand what they are treating and how to treat it safely.

Okoro explained that the institute offers detailed cosmetic science training, both theoretical and practical, to combat the use of harmful products. “We teach them the ingredients that bleach the skin, that cause skin cancer, and how long-term use of such ingredients affects the skin. Anyone who comes into the Beauty Therapy Institute leaves knowing these ingredients are harmful and shouldn’t be used at all,” she said.

On his part, a dermatologist and hair restoration surgeon, Dr Gboyega Olarinoye, expressed concern about the misuse of skin lightening products, calling for stronger regulations and public education.

“People invest huge resources in harmful practices. If we can revamp these things, make them safe, and educate people, the potential is limitless,” he said.

He noted that bringing experts together to share knowledge can help move the industry forward.

Bright  Adoga, a graduant, appreciated the BTI for the knowledge she gained and expressed optimism on the future of the beauty industry.