"No Shampoo for Hair Loss Prevention or Treatment"…MFDS Detects 172 Cases of False and Exaggerated Advertising

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has identified 172 online websites that falsely or exaggeratedly advertised the prevention or treatment of hair loss.

The Ministry announced on the 7th that it inspected 341 related websites from the 4th to the 14th of last month, and requested access blocking and administrative actions for 172 sites where violations were confirmed.

This inspection was conducted to prevent consumer harm due to cases where shampoos, which are cosmetics, were advertised and sold as if they were medicines that prevent and treat hair loss.

The main violations among the 172 cases detected were 160 advertisements causing misunderstanding or confusion as medicines, 5 advertisements causing misunderstanding or confusion by presenting non-functional cosmetics as functional cosmetics, and 7 other deceptive advertisements targeting consumers.

The most frequently detected advertisements causing misunderstanding or confusion as medicines (93.0%) used expressions beyond the efficacy and effects of cosmetics such as "hair loss prevention" and "hair growth," which induced misunderstanding or confusion as medicines.

The Ministry explained that hair loss treatments, which are medicines, act by being absorbed into the scalp, so there are no products approved for use in a manner like shampoo that washes the hair.

According to the Ministry, general shampoos cannot use expressions such as hair loss treatment, hair loss prevention, hair growth, hair nourishment, or hair thickness increase. Only shampoos that have been reviewed or reported as functional cosmetics for hair loss can use expressions like hair loss shampoo, hair loss management, or hair loss care.

After consulting with a private advertising verification group composed of 90 experts from the medical community, consumer organizations, and academia, the Ministry reported that the verification group emphasized that functional cosmetic shampoos only help alleviate hair loss symptoms and are fundamentally different from hair loss treatment medicines, so they cannot prevent or treat hair loss.

Furthermore, the verification group recommended that if symptoms such as red spots, swelling, or itching appear when using functional shampoos that provide auxiliary help for hair loss, users should stop using the product and consult a specialist.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.