The National Health Commission reiterated on Tuesday that aesthetic clinics, nail salons and hair salons are banned from carrying out non-surgical cosmetic procedures and urged the public to stay vigilant against illegal beauty services.

Xie Yang, a spokeswoman for the commission, said non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as laser treatments and drug injections have grown in popularity in recent years. However, unscrupulous merchants have fueled anxiety about physical appearance and concealed the potential risks of such treatments. Some have even launched fast-track training courses in which trainees are instructed to administer injections on each other, leading to cases of injury or even disability.

Xie stressed that non-surgical cosmetic procedures are medical in nature and must be conducted in qualified medical institutions by licensed medical professionals. Beauty salons, nail studios, and hairdressing shops are strictly prohibited from performing such procedures. The public is advised not to compromise their health and safety by opting for cheaper alternatives or unqualified providers, she said.

Organizing or participating in crash courses for cosmetic procedures may involve illegal activities such as unlicensed medical practice, unauthorized use or sale of medical cosmetic products and devices, and issuing fake training or qualification certificates, Xie said. She called on the public to report any suspected illegal cosmetic procedures to local health authorities or through the 12345 government service hotline.