In her feature published in Express Pharma, Dr. Nishita Ranka examines the growing concerns around India’s cosmetic and aesthetic medicine industry, highlighting the gap between existing regulations and their enforcement. She points to the continued availability of unregistered cosmetic products, poorly monitored aesthetic procedures, and the absence of a structured system for reporting adverse reactions.

Dr. Ranka also highlights the regulatory grey area around “cosmeceuticals,” which currently has no separate legal definition in India. She argues that clearer definitions and evidence-based claims are needed to prevent products from making quasi-therapeutic promises while avoiding stricter regulatory requirements.

The article also raises concerns about invasive aesthetic procedures, including injectables and energy-based treatments, being performed without adequate medical oversight, emergency protocols, or proper facility standards. Dr. Ranka calls for stronger qualification requirements, premises licensing, and a national cosmetovigilance system to systematically track adverse events.

Dr. Ranka further stresses that responsibility does not rest only with regulators. Dermatologists and other professionals also have a responsibility to verify products, maintain ethical claims, follow proper procedures, and prioritise patient safety. Her central argument is that individual professional ethics cannot replace effective institutional enforcement.

Publication: Express Pharma
Feature: CDSCO’s cosmetic regulations: The rules exist. The enforcement does not
Author: Dr. Nishita Ranka
Published: June 12, 2026