Image credit A recent post in Daily Mail has thrown light on the fact that the number of women resorting to DIY beauty products, in order to save money, is on a rise. But unfortunately, they are doing this only at the cost of their own safety. A research from Mintel reveals that about 10% women are turning to DIY alternatives instead of visiting beauty salons. Women who are increasingly becoming victims of DIY beauty treatments are not realizing that they are dealing with lasers which can be dealt with in a much better way by trained professionals. Often, the companies in order to make a fast buck advertise these products as easy to use at home. The results are often catastrophic and painful. Pigment corrective and hair removal gadgets working on the principle of Intense Pulsed Light are being promoted as at-home devices, but on the contrary are designed to be used by professionals with proper facilities, equipments, and support staff. What is IPL? Intense Pulse Light or IPL is a treatment to correct pigmentation problems like sun damage. The light gets attracted to pigmented areas and pulls the color to the surface. It is quite apparent that this procedure can be best handled by a professional. Immediate effect on skin is ghastly, but over time the skin attains the desired clarity. All you have to do is avoid the sun during and after the treatment. At-home IPL gadgets can harm your skin There have been instances where untrained technicians have caused permanent damage to patient’s skin. But the real risk is posed by the at-home IPL gadgets women these days are so excited about.The DIY equipments have less power and women are often tempted to use these at a stronger setting. This almost always burns the skin. The point they miss is that they will not be able to judge whether the gadget will suit their skin type. For example, IPL treatment does not suit dark skin type. Same is the case for people with extremely light complexion. Cosmetic Dermatologist, Dr. Mervyn Patterson says that recently she has many patients coming in with at-home gadget casualties where the top layer was scorched or blistered. The treatment of the wounds costs much more than the cheap DIY gadgets. Another thing people almost always forget is to take a patch-test before using the gadget all over their bodies. Chemical peels Side effects of chemical peels are generally rare when done under the supervision of an expert. But DIY chemical peels can often cause side effects like redness, irritation, stinginess and tightness. These are mild when performed by professionals. At home peels can sometimes cause infection and scarring. Hair Dyes Generally hair dyes are not that harmful, but they are known to cause severe reactions and allergies in some people which might even be fatal. A mild reaction will only affect the upper eyelids or rims of ears but more serious kinds might affects the entire head. In severe cases the person may suffer an anaphylactic shock in which the tongue and mouth swell and airways get constricted which can be fatal. Still want to dye your hair at home? Don’t rely on home remedies Once you have landed into trouble by using DIY beauty treatments, for god’s sake consult a doctor. Very few women use home remedies to treat their burns which only makes it worse and there are chances of infection. Although these gadgets are a very cheap alternative to beauty salon bills, would you rather jeopardize your safety to save a few dollars? Majority of the experts are of the opinion is that it better to be safe than sorry and leave these treatments to the professionals. After all, not even a million dollars can bring back the sheen of naturally healthy skin.