Download Trends in Skin Penetration

Trends in Skin Penetration
by Jaala Downes
Skin Penetration Definition
• A skin penetration procedure means a procedure in which —
(a) the skin is cut, punctured, torn or shaved; or
(b) mucous membrane is cut, punctured or torn.
• Includes –
– Tattooing
– Piercing
– Acupuncture
– Some beauty therapy procedures such as waxing,
shaving, tweezing and electrolysis
Skin Penetration Legislation
• Health (Skin Penetration Procedures) Regulations 1998
• Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures
The legislation applies to anyone performing a skin penetration
procedure such as:
• Tattooists,
• Body piercers,
• Beauty therapists, and
• Acupuncturists.
The legislation does not apply to:
• Medical practitioners or dentists,
• A person under the supervision of a medical practitioner,
• Podiatrists, and
• Nurses.
Subsidiary Legislation
• Health (Cloth Materials) Regulations 1985
• Applies to all
• Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983
• Applies to solariums, lasers (e.g. hair removal)
• Children and Community Services Act 2004
• Prescribes ages for tattooing and branding
• But not for piercing – no age limit
Body modifications…
• Nothing new!
There’s the traditional…
Photo courtesy of faculty.coloradomtn.edu/jeschofnig/mursi2a.jpg
Photo courtesy of channel.nationalgeographic.com
Photo courtesy of archives.starbulletin.com
And then there’s the modern…
Photo courtesy of http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/
Advances in Technology…
YOU TOO CAN LOOK
YOUNGER,
PERKIER,
BEFORE
MORE ATTRACTIVE
HAPPIER!!!
AFTER
Teeth whitening
• BOOM INDUSTRY!
• Growing in popularity due to
consumer convenience and
naivety
• Teeth yellow with age
– Tea
– Coffee
– Red wine
– Smoking
• Costs between $99 - $890
Teeth whitening – mobile services
•Uses chemicals that can
– Ruin tooth enamel,
– Aggravate gum diseases,
– Sensitise your teeth, and
– Burn your gums
•At home kits can be just as
dangerous!
Threading
Threading is an ancient
method of hair removal
practiced many Asian
countries.
Uses a pure, thin, twisted
cotton thread which is rolled
over untidy hairlines,
plucking the hair at the
follicle level.
Lasers
Before
Therapeutic or dermatological
lasers must be registered with the
Radiological Council.
After
May only be used by doctors,
physios, dentists…
Lasers emit coherent light (waves
of the same wavelength),
providing specific & intense
targeted beam.
IPL
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
emits a spectrum of various
wavelengths.
Special filters remove
unwanted wavelengths
A popular method of hair
removal, but may also be
used to treat:
• Sun damage
• Rosacea
• Broken capillaries
• Birth marks
IPL machines are currently
not regulated.
Fish Pedicures
• Removes dead skin.
• Garra rufa currently not
approved for importation
• “Imposter” fish also not
available (Chin chin yu).
• Potential for bacterial
and fungal infections
• Animal welfare concerns
And more…
• Botox
• Colonic irrigation
• Snake venom cream
• Saunas, day spas
• Cupping
• Placenta anti-wrinkle cream
• Leech detox
• Isolation tanks
• Genital piercing
• Hairdressing
And more…
• Nightingale faeces facial
treatment
• Bull semen hair treatment
• Chocolate fondue wrap
• Medicated fire treatment
• Solariums
• Snake massage
• Cactus massage
• Anal bleaching
Beauty Therapy Complaints, FAQ’s
Waxing – double dipping, re-using wax, roll-on cartridges
Mani-pedi – fungal infections, sliced feet (pedi-blades)
Staff not knowing how to treat / clean wounds
Cleanliness, not disinfecting equipment between customers
Not changing towels, sheets between customers
Disinfectants, antiseptics, cosmetics – adverse reactions
Methyl methacrylate
Odours from nail bars
Training requirements for beauty therapists (lack of)
Lasers & IPL – Second & third degree burns
Advances and new technologies
in Body Modifications
• There are many new
types of body
modifications available
now than just the
traditional piercing and
tattooing…
Flesh tunnels and flesh plugs
•Can be worn in a
stretched piercing,
usually in the ear
or nose.
•Stretching
operation “hurts
pretty bad!”.
Pocketing
• The jewellery is a custom
curved bar with rounded
ends (no beads, just a
smooth end).
• Almost all pockets reject
Flesh stapling
• A staple or paper-clip.
• The ends of the piece of
jewellery are bent under
the skin, and the centre
of the jewellery is visible
above the skin.
• Developed to combat the
problem of pockets being
rejected
Dermal anchors
• Allows for a “single point” piercing.
- one visible end or bead.
• Placement almost anywhere is
possible.
• The piercer makes a small ‘pocket’
with a needle and places the anchor
under the skin.
Clavicle piercing
• Very deep piercing
– passes beneath the collarbone
– enters the body cavity
• High chances of nerve or
artery damage, infection,
rejection, scarring, etc.
• The piercing should be done
only by a professional who
has a clear idea about
human anatomy.
Body modifications - implants
•Small Teflon "bumps" inserted
subdermally.
•Larger implants can be added
when the skin is ready.
Eyeball Implants
• A cosmetic implant
involving jewellery which
is implanted within the
superficial conjunctiva of
the eye.
Image courtesy of www.alternativelook.net/hardcore-body-modification/
Tongue splitting
•Tongue bifurcation, or
tongue splitting, is a type
of body modification in
which the tongue is cut
centrally from its tip part
of the way towards its
base, forking the end.
Piercing Complaints, FAQ’s
• Underage piercing
• Using piercing guns on areas other than the ear lobe
• Courses in piercing
• Infections (mostly unfounded – due to inappropriate
aftercare)
• Selling used jewellery
Tattooing and Branding
Practiced for centuries worldwide...
Branding or Scarification
• Involves scratching, etching,
or superficially cutting
designs, pictures, or words
into the skin as a permanent
body modification
• Scars are formed by cutting
or branding the skin.
• Popular in prisons, street
gangs and organised crime.
Scarification
Eye Tattoos
Pet Tattoos
Tattoo complaints, FAQ’s
• Tattoo inks
• Ink cap sterilisation
• Sterilising the tattoo gun
• Illegal tattooing from
home
What are the risks?
•Infections, including HIV, Hepatitis
•Scars
•Excessive bleeding
•Pain
•Mistakes
•Rejection or embedding
•Tearing of the skin
•Allergic reaction – to dyes or metal
•Nerve damage
•Dermatitis
•Cross-contamination
•Dental risks, e.g. chipped teeth, ulcers
•Regret…
Current Legislation
Prescriptive;
May hinder individuality, innovation;
Constricts the technologies that are acceptable (e.g.
can only use certain antiseptics);
Sometimes irrelevant & difficult to implement;
Does not encompass every type of procedure;
Onus on government & EHO’s, rather than premises;
Does not take new hazards into account.
New legislation
RISK MANAGEMENT
Evidence-based
De-regulation
Onus on industry, not
on enforcement
Encompasses new
technologies
Flexible
What are our options?
• If we don’t regulate these industries, who will?
• Do we ignore the extreme because it is “too hard”, or
“too hardcore”?
• If we regulate the extreme will it lead to ready
availability, and therefore more people wanting these
procedures?
Questions?
Jaala Downes – Scientific Officer
Applied Environmental Health
Environmental Health Hazards Unit
Phone: 9388 4950
Email: [email protected]