Ad description
A post on Secret Surgery Aesthetics’ Facebook page, seen on 30 May 2022, featured an image of a woman’s hairline alongside text that stated, “This wonderful lady started Biotin jabs and is already seeing the results of hair growth! Vitamin B is vital in human functioning and Biotin is one of the B complex, that is Vitamin B7, also known as Vitamin H. Vitamin H stands for hair and skin which is derived from German word - Haar and Haut. Many studies have shown Biotin to be useful for Skin, Hair and Nails. Most common symptoms of a lack of biotin are - Thinning of hair, Skin dryness, Loss of hairs, Anemia [sic], Fungal infection ****OFFER**** Book in for a course. 6 jabs (1 per week) only £150. Standard price £210.”
Issue
The complainant, a Trustee of the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners, challenged whether the ad breached the Code because it advertised a prescription-only medicine to the public.
Response
Secret Surgery Aesthetics said they had been unaware that under the advertising code, Biotin jabs could not be advertised to the public. They said they had made some changes to their advertising.
Assessment
Upheld
The CAP Code stated that prescription-only medicines or prescription-only medical treatments must not be advertised to the public.
The ASA understood that all licensed forms of injectable Biotin were prescription-only medicines.
The ad, which was visible to anyone visiting Secret Surgery’s Facebook page, invited consumers to book Biotin injections. We therefore considered that it promoted a prescription-only medicine to the general public and concluded that it breached the Code.
The ad breached CAP Code (Edition 12) rule 12.12 12.12 Prescription-only medicines or prescription-only medical treatments may not be advertised to the public. (Medicines, medical devices, health-related products and beauty products).
Action
The ad must not appear again in the form complained of. We told Secret Surgery Aesthetics not to promote prescription-only medicines to the general public in future.
