Following a warning by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) about the safety and quality of unlicensed traditional Chinese medicine, the Skin Care Campaign is re-releasing recommendations and guidelines on choosing a safe complementary treatment or practitioner.

The MHRA's warning targets herbal practitioners, reiterating concerns about the safety and quality of unlicensed traditional Chinese medicines for sale in the UK .  

Skin conditions and treatments are highlighted in the MHRA report, which cites herbal creams containing topical corticosteroids - strong prescription medicines that should only be used under medical supervision and may have serious side effects when used unwittingly.

In 1999, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin (APPGS) published a report on its Enquiry Into Fraudulent Practice in the Treatment of Skin Disease.   This new MHRA report suggests that despite strong, practical recommendations by the APPGS, the fraudulent practice in the treatment of skin disease continues, proving a real potential hazard for patients.

Skin Care Campaign chief executive, Peter Lapsley, comments: "Skin disease can be difficult to treat and medication often takes time to work, driving disillusioned patients to look for alternative solutions. It is vital that health professionals manage patients' expectations sympathetically and educate those with skin conditions about the often chronic nature of their disease, to avoid the emotional, financial and sometimes physical damage which fraudulent treatments and practitioners may cause when patients seek their help in desperation, ”

He continued: “ It is recognised that complementary treatments can play a role in the treatment of skin disease and those that are tested and proven are increasingly being absorbed into general practice. However, patients should be extremely cautious of any treatment or practitioner offering a treatment that seems to good to be true ”

Guidelines are available at: www.skincarecampaign.org /sccguidelines/complementary