The Government is considering a ban on botox and cosmetic fillers for people under the age of 18.
The health Minister Simon Harris has directed his officials to investigate whether there is a need for increased regulation on the cosmetic sector.
In a statement, he said botox is growing in popularity across all age groups and sexes – and is increasingly targeted at young people.
He has asked his department to look into any potential health risks from the procedures and explore how they can be communicated to the public.
“While the profession and the products are regulated, I am conscious that this is an industry that is continuing to grow and, particularly worryingly, it is targeting young men and women,” said Minister Harris.
"There are a number of reasons for this including a desire by young men and women to be perfect driven by social media.
“But there are also companies and professionals who are exploiting that for their own gain.
“Many of these products are being offered cheaply, without prior assessment of the person and by professionals who are not regulated in this country.”
He said his officials would examine Ireland’s current regulations and decide whether stricter rules are needed.
“This is not an issue solely confined to Ireland but one that I believe we need to address as a matter of priority,” he said.
“I have asked my Department to look at all steps in this regard.
“In the past, we have banned sunbeds for under-18s and I have asked my Department to assess whether we should impose a minimum age for the use of these products.
“This cannot be an area that goes unregulated or unsupervised.”
Under current rules the filling material used in cosmetic procedures is not classified as a drug and can bought online and administered by someone with no medical training.
New EU regulations will see dermal fillers classified as a ‘medical device’ from 2020 onwards.
The Department of Health has pledged to bring forward new legislation to ensure providers of “high-risk healthcare activities” – including certain cosmetic procedures – will need a licence to operate.
