Note: This advice is given by the CAP Executive about non-broadcast advertising. It does not constitute legal advice. It does not bind CAP, CAP advisory panels or the Advertising Standards Authority.
CAP understands that microsclerotherapy is a treatment to reduce the appearance of thread veins. Because it consists of injections of a sclerosing solution, which is a prescription-only medicine (and should be injected by a suitably qualified health professional), the treatment may not be advertised to the public.
If they offer other treatments for thread veins as well as microsclerotherapy, marketers may advertise the treatment of thread veins generally. They may not name directly or describe the treatment in any way that would imply microsclerotherapy.
Microsclerotherapy may, however, be advertised directly to the medical, dental, veterinary and allied professions because claims in marketing communications in media addressed only to them are exempt from the Code (Introduction to the Code, Section IId)
See: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/CosmeticSurgery/DH_4121600 for further information.
See ‘Medicines’.
Last modified : 27 July 2010