CDSCO Warns Those marketing Cosmetics as Injections, users beware

Cosmetics Cannot Be Used for Medical Treatment or Injections

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a clarification following the growing craze for injectable skin beauty treatments across clinics, beauty salons, and online platforms.

The CDSCO stated that cosmetics cannot be used for medical treatments or administered as injections. This public notice was issued to address growing safety concerns regarding these procedures. Under Indian law, medicines or liquids administered through injections do not fall under the category of cosmetics at all.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), under the Union Health Ministry, issued this public notice on May 18, 2026. It cautions manufacturers, clinics, and consumers against misleading claims, the use of prohibited ingredients, and the misuse of cosmetic products in beauty procedures.

Legal Definition of Cosmetics

According to the CDSCO, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, cosmetics are defined as products intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed, or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance. All such items fall strictly under the cosmetics category.

The CDSCO notice explicitly states: “No cosmetic product is permitted to be used as an injection by consumers, professionals, or beauty clinics.” The regulator further clarified that cosmetics are strictly meant for external use only and cannot be used for professional or individual medical treatments. The drug regulator also warned against misleading advertisements and false labeling practices. No cosmetic product can make false claims that mislead consumers. Furthermore, no one is allowed to alter, remove, or deface any text, marking, or batch code placed by the manufacturer on the container, label, or packaging of cosmetic products.

The CDSCO emphasized that using prohibited ingredients in cosmetics, making misleading claims on labels, using cosmetics for medical treatments, and administering cosmetics via injections constitute a violation of law under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also published a list of unsafe and restricted ingredients.

The general public is requested to report any such violations to the CDSCO via its official email ID (cosmetics@cdsco.nic.in) or to the respective State Licensing Authorities.

Major Products Marketed as Injectable Cosmetics and Their Uses

To bypass drug regulations, some medical formulations are illegally or misleadingly categorized as “cosmetic products” by beauty salons, wellness centers, and aesthetic clinics.

1. Glutathione: “Glow Drips” or Skin-Brightening Injections

• What it is: Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant naturally produced in the liver.
• How it is used: It is administered through intravenous (IV) drips or localized injections for rapid skin whitening, removing dark spots (hyperpigmentation), and achieving an anti-aging “glow.”
• The Reality: In medical science, using glutathione solely for skin whitening is considered an unapproved and off-label (unauthorized) treatment.

2. Mesotherapy Cocktails: Vitamin and Enzyme Jabs

• What it is: A customized mixture of vitamins, minerals, enzymes (such as collagenase or hyaluronidase), and plant extracts.
• How it is used: It is injected into the middle layer of the skin (mesoderm) to dissolve localized fat, reduce cellulite, contour the face, and stop hair loss.

3. Tranexamic Acid Injections

• What it is: An antifibrinolytic drug traditionally used in medicine to control heavy bleeding.
• How it is used: It is given via micro-injections into the facial skin to treat severe melasma (dark spots/patches) by blocking the pathways that increase skin pigmentation.

4. Advanced Exosomes and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

• What it is: These contain cellular byproducts, growth factors, or concentrated elements from blood plasma.
• How it is used: It is injected into the scalp or facial skin to stimulate cell regeneration, reverse the signs of aging, and promote hair regrowth.

Impacts on the Human Body and Health Risks

When a substance is applied on top of the skin (rubbed or sprayed), the skin’s outer lipid layer acts as a protective shield. Injecting these same substances directly into the skin layers or bloodstream bypasses the body’s natural defense system, creating severe medical risks:

• Atypical Mycobacterial Infections: Unregulated mesotherapy cocktails and poorly sanitized equipment often introduce stubborn bacterial infections deep into the skin. This causes painful nodules (lumps), chronic abscesses, and permanent scarring, requiring months of heavy antibiotic treatment.
• Organ Toxicity: High doses of intravenous (IV) glutathione put heavy metabolic pressure on the liver and kidneys. This can lead to severe kidney damage, liver weakness, and ‘Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis’ (a life-threatening reaction where the skin peels off).
• Destruction of Skin Cells (Necrosis): Incorrectly injected enzymes or off-label chemicals can block the blood supply to a specific area, causing the surrounding skin tissues to die (necrosis). This can leave permanent hollow dimples or cause severe chemical burns inside the skin.
• Anaphylactic Shock (Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction): Many cocktail mixtures contain unlisted stabilizing agents or plant extracts. When injected directly into the body, they can cause severe allergic reactions, resulting in a sudden drop in blood pressure and breathing failure (respiratory failure).

Strict Regulatory Stance and Mandates by the CDSCO

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has intervened to stop the practice of labeling these invasive medical procedures as ordinary “cosmetics.”

Core Directives and Legal Actions:

• Strict Legal Disqualification: The CDSCO ruled that any product supplied in an injectable form cannot legally be defined as a cosmetic. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, cosmetics are strictly defined as items meant only to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or applied externally on the body for cleansing or beautification.
• Complete Ban on Injections: The directive clearly states that no consumer, professional, or aesthetic clinic is allowed to use any cosmetic product as an injection.
• Ban on Treatment Claims: The regulator clarified that cosmetics cannot be used by individuals or professionals for medical “treatments.” Claiming on a product label that it can cure, treat, or structurally change internal biological functions is a punishable offense under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
• Strict Action Against Packaging Tampering: This notice prohibits any salon or clinic from altering, removing, or defacing the manufacturer’s markings, batch codes, or labels on product packaging. This tampering is usually done to hide the fact that topical (surface-application) solutions are being drawn into syringes and given as injections.
• Public Reporting System: The CDSCO urges consumers and health professionals to report any salon, clinic, or manufacturer violating these rules directly to State Authorities or via the official regulatory email at cosmetics@cdsco.nic.in.