Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 7: The sudden demise of actress Shefali Jariwala has cast a spotlight on the growing and largely unregulated use of anti-ageing and cosmetic treatments in India. Experts warn that while the popularity of such procedures has soared, many of the products being used are scientifically unproven and potentially hazardous.

Jariwala, best remembered for her breakout appearance in the 2002 music video Kaanta Laga, passed away on June 27 in Mumbai at the age of 42. Preliminary findings point to cardiac arrest as the cause of death, but reports also indicate she had been using a combination of anti-ageing injections—allegedly self-administered while fasting.

Dr. Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, voiced concern over the unregulated nature of these treatments. “Anti-ageing medicine is becoming very popular but it’s mostly unregulated. Many of these products are sold without proper scientific validation. Some can cause harm, especially when used long-term,” he said.

Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, convener of the Research Cell at the Kerala State Indian Medical Association (IMA), added that the term "anti-ageing" itself is misleading. “There’s no scientific basis for the idea that these products can reverse or stop ageing. Some drugs can lighten skin, but that’s not equivalent to stopping age-related changes,” he said.

Media reports citing the ongoing police probe suggest Jariwala had been undergoing skin-whitening and anti-ageing treatments—including glutathione and Vitamin C injections—for around eight years, often without active medical monitoring after her initial consultation.

Jayadevan explained the added risks of using intravenous (IV) medications without supervision. “When injected directly, drugs bypass the body’s natural filters like the digestive system and liver. That can lead to dangerously high levels in the bloodstream,” he said, stressing that IV treatments must be tightly regulated to avoid contamination.

He also referred to international incidents involving toxic contamination in glutathione vials in countries like Australia and the Philippines, as well as reports of adverse reactions from such cosmetic injections.

India currently ranks among the top ten countries globally for aesthetic procedures, according to the latest ISAPS Global Survey, trailing only behind cosmetic giants like the United States, Brazil, and Japan. This rapid rise in cosmetic interventions has raised urgent concerns among healthcare professionals.

Dr. Guleria concluded by calling for strict regulation of cosmetic drugs. “There is definitely a need to regulate such medicines. If there’s no concrete evidence supporting their safety or effectiveness—and if they’re potentially harmful—they should be banned. The same applies to other widely misused drugs, such as those used for muscle-building,” he said.

As the industry grows, experts stress that public awareness and policy action are vital to prevent further tragedies linked to unsupervised and misleading cosmetic treatments.