Dermatologists indicted in chemical peel case

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors indicted two dermatologists Monday on
charges of using an unapproved facial peeling treatment using phenol, a substance
known to be toxic when used on human skin.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office indicted the doctors, who work at a
popular high-end skin clinic, on charges of negligence resulting in physical harm
to nine female patients that received "phenol peels" priced at thousands of U.S.
dollars.
Investigators said the doctors did not give full description of the ingredients
and potential side effects of the treatment.
"I spent nearly 12 million won (US$9,800) on the facial peel, because (the
doctors said) it can remove age spots permanently with a simple treatment without
any side effects," one patient said. "But now, I cannot go anywhere without a
mask and a hat because of the severe burn on my face."
The indicted dermatologists claimed in 2002 the head of the clinic, who died last
year, had developed a new facial treatment and advertised it through medical
programs on cable channels, according to prosecutors.
The prosecution said the doctors failed to fulfill their duty by not informing
the patients of the potential side effects and giving them inappropriate
treatment
The doctors were also accused of using a product that had not been clinically
tested or approved.
The phenol peel, the strongest treatment using chemical solutions for a deep
peel, is used mainly to treat patients with coarse facial wrinkles and areas of
blotchy or damaged skin. Concentrated exposure of the skin to phenol solutions is
known to cause chemical burns.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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