ABU DHABI // Health inspectors have ordered the removal of dozens of cosmetic lasers and peelers from beauty parlours and barber shops that are not certified to operate the equipment.
The surprise inspection campaign, which began on January 18, found that as many as a quarter of the city's more than 400 salons were using potentially risky anti-ageing devices that should be used only under supervision of a doctor or certified technician.
"Some of these special machines are for tattoos or whitening, some for peeling skin. Some should not be in a beauty salon at all," said Khalifa al Rumaithi, the head of the health control section of Abu Dhabi Municipality. "Some of these machines belong in a clinic or a hospital. This is the reason we get shocked."
Popular treatments such as laser hair-removal might be authorised at certain clinics, Mr al Rumaithi said, but salon customers might not understand the dangers such as burns and scarring that can occur without the presence of a certified professional on hand.
"We find this laser machine even in the men's salon because some men don't want to shave at the neck," he said. "But unless it's in a hospital or with a doctor's care, this can be something very dangerous."
Anti-ageing Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) lasers were also common in the shops although they were not sanctioned by health officials for use in salons, said Mohammed Osman, a senior analyst with the public health section.
Last week, officials of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi said it would publish guidelines for beauty clinics that perform laser and other technical procedures.
Mr al Rumaithi described the improper use of cosmetic machines as a serious violation that could result in a fine of up to Dh10,000 (US$2,700). A repeat violation could result in a stiffer fine and closure of the business.
Minor infractions such as neglecting to sweep the floors between new customers at a barber shop could mean Dh200 fines.
Businesses found to be operating cosmetic machines improperly were given warnings to remove them from the shops.
"We covered these machines and said they cannot be used, and we give them, like, two days," Mr al Rumaithi said. "We come back after and if the machine's gone, then OK. If not, we get an order from the judge.
"You don't go to a salon and there's a man with a small piece of paper that says, 'I took a course with this machine'," he said. "Sometimes that's not enough. You go and see the skin doctor and they say OK, your skin is strong enough to use this laser."
Last week, Ahmed, a public health inspector for 15 years, issued a warning to a salon in the Tourist Club area after spotting an IPL laser apparatus.
"I asked him where's the approval from the public health department? He said he just got it new from the catalogue," said Ahmed, who asked for his last name not to be published. "He promised me he will remove that laser machine, so we'll keep his number in the file and if the second time is like that, there will be a fine."
As part of a three-week campaign begun last month to improve sanitary conditions at beauty centres, the municipality's 40 public health inspectors and a team of analysts questioned business owners and collected swabs from towels, combs, razors and scissors.
The inspectors were nearing the end of the intensive campaign, and had so far issued warnings to 114 shops, Mr al Rumaithi said. Of those, 45 had since been cleared after correcting their mistakes and 55 cases had been transferred to the courts.
The most common complaints from salon customers are usually related to unhygienic practices, such as stylists reusing towels for multiple customers. Hair stylists, for instance, must keep scissors and combs under an ultraviolet light steriliser, but several shops were only using commercial light bulbs.
"That doesn't give the same wavelength, so there's no sterilising function," said Mr Osman. "It's just like decoration."
In a bid to inform customers about what to look for in a properly managed salon, Mr al Rumaithi said information posters would be put up in barber shops and beauty parlours in the coming weeks.
He encouraged patrons to report any health risks by calling the municipality's hotline at 993.
The public health section is recruiting Emirati inspectors and expects to have 28 new officials by next month, including additional female inspectors to check beauty parlours and women's spas.
mkwong@thenational.ae
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Lexus LX700h specs
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On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.