Penang government has warned the public against seeking medical aesthetic treatments from unqualified providers, cautioning that such procedures could result in severe infections, permanent scarring and even life-threatening complications.
State youth, sports and health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the growing popularity of aesthetic treatments had also led to an increase in illegal and unregulated services, posing serious risks to public health.
“Treatments involving injections, laser procedures and other invasive aesthetic procedures should only be performed by qualified healthcare professionals in registered medical facilities.
“There is nothing wrong with wanting to look beautiful, but health and safety must always come first,” he said when launching the Skin Health Awareness Carnival 2026 at Sunshine Central in Penang.
Gooi said the state government would continue working with Health Ministry, the state Health Department, medical professional bodies and enforcement agencies to strengthen public education and raise awareness of the dangers posed by illegal medical aesthetic services.
The carnival, held in conjunction with National Skin Health Day 2026, was part of a two-day programme jointly organised by the Dermatological Society of Malaysia (PDM), Hospital Pulau Pinang, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Penang Psoriasis Care Association, Penang Fujian Merchants Association and several supporting organisations.
Earlier, organising chairman and PDM president Assoc Prof Dr Tan Wooi Chiang said the campaign aimed to promote evidence-based skincare and encourage Malaysians to seek early medical intervention for skin conditions.
“Our skin is the largest organ of the human body and serves as our first line of defence against the environment.
“Yet, skin health is often overlooked until problems arise.”
Dr Tan said this year's campaign focused on raising awareness of common skin conditions, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, urticaria and skin infections, while addressing misinformation and unsafe skincare advice circulating on social media.
He also urged the public to seek treatment only from qualified dermatologists and accredited healthcare facilities, particularly as demand for cosmetic and aesthetic procedures continued to grow.
“Beautiful skin should never come at the expense of safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Psoriasis Care Association president Datuk Tan Lye Hock called for greater public understanding of psoriasis, stressing that the chronic skin condition was not contagious.
He said many patients continued to face stigma because of misconceptions surrounding the disease.
“Psoriasis cannot be spread through physical contact or poor hygiene.
“Patients need support and understanding, not discrimination,” he said.
Penang Fujian Merchants Association president Datuk Loh Nam Hooi also advised the public against delaying treatment or turning to unproven remedies found online, saying early medical consultation remained the best approach for managing skin conditions.
The carnival featured 23 interactive booths covering topics such as common skin diseases, skin cleansing, skin barrier care, sun protection, hair and nail health, and safe skincare practices.
Visitors also attended talks by consultant dermatologists, received complimentary skin consultations and were given educational advice.
The first 1,000 visitors received complimentary goodie bags.
The programme began a day earlier with the Penang Adolescent Dermatology Workshop at SMJK Jit Sin in Bukit Mertajam, where secondary school students took part in dermatology talks, quizzes, skin consultations and educational exhibitions aimed at promoting better skin health awareness among young people.
