Beauty treatments

Beauty treatments that pierce the skin have the potential to cause infection. Therefore it is important that businesses undertaking beauty treatments maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure sterilisation procedures are effective.

This section contains information valuable to anybody who provides beauty treatments to the public. There is also information for consumers on what to look for when visiting a beauty premises and how to make a complaint.

Contacting the Environmental Health Team

For further information regarding any of the information contained within this section, please contact Council's Environmental Health Team Monday to Friday during business hours on 9911 6555 or via email. 

Beauty treatments that penetrate the skin

What is skin penetration?

Skin penetration is defined as any procedure or treatment that intentionally penetrates the skin. This includes but is not limited to the following procedures:

  • Hair removal (by wax or electrolysis)

  • Acupuncture

  • Tattooing

  • Ear and body piercing

  • Colonic lavage

  • Cuticle cutting

  • Microdermabrasian

  • Dermaplaning

Services not monitored under skin penetration surveillance:

  • Procedures carried out by barbers and hairdressers, where skin penetration is not intended.

  • Any procedure carried out by or under the supervision of a health practitioner registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law e.g. registered nurse, dental services, chiropractor, optometrist, pharmacy, physiotherapist, podiatrist.

  • Any procedure declared by the Public Health Regulation 2012 not to be a skin penetration procedure.

What are the risks of skin penetration?

A beauty treatment that breaks the skin can introduce infections into the body. This can result in the transmission of bacterial and fungal infections, as well as viral infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The law outlines minimum infection control standards to ensure that people are protected when undertaking a beauty treatment.

What is the role of the City of Canada Bay?

The City of Canada Bay's Environmental Health Officers (EHO's) routinely inspect beauty salons for compliance with the law. Action is taken when a salon is not meeting the minimum standards.

Council's commitment to skin penetration is outlined in its Skin Penetration Surveillance Strategy.

More information

What to look for when visiting a beauty salon

What to look for:

  1. The salon is free from dust and visibly clean

  2. Operators: 
    a) Wash their hands before and after every treatment
    b) Wear gloves during each treatment
    c) Use clean implements such as nail files/buffers that have never been used before
    d) Reusable equipment designed to penetrate the skin's surface is sealed in sterile packets and opened in front of you (i.e. cuticle cutters, razors, needles etc.)
    e) Change linen between each client
    f) Thoroughly wash and disinfect foot spas between each use.

If you have any doubts, discuss your concerns with the business owner, otherwise decline treatment and report your concern to the City of Canada Bay. 

Reporting your concerns to Council

Notify the City of Canada Bay by:

To assist the City of Canada Bay in investigating your concerns, provide the following information where possible:

  • The name and address of the salon

  • The date and time the salon was visited

  • Treatment received

  • An outline of the basis of your complaint

Information for business undertaking beauty treatments

Business registration

If you operate a business (including mobile operators) that undertakes treatments which penetrate the skin, you must register with the City of Canada Bay by completing and lodging the Business Registration Form.

Treatments that penetrate the skin include:

  • Hair removal (by wax or electrolysis)

  • Acupuncture

  • Tattooing

  • Ear and body piercing

  • Colonic lavage

  • Cuticle cutting

  • Microdermabrasian

  • Dermaplaning

Procedures that are not intended to penetrate the skin, such as those offered by hairdressers and barbers are not considered to be skin penetration.

Inspections and fees

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 Council may charge for the services it provides. To recover the costs of regulating the skin penetration industry including inspections, development of correspondence and educational materials, a fee is charged on an annual basis. An invoice is issued after the inspection and must be paid within 30 days. View Council's Fees and Charges.

For more information

Contact Council’s Environmental Health Team by email or phone Monday to Friday on 9911 6555.

New skin penetration premises

A new beauty salon must comply with the Public Health Act 2010, Public Health Regulation 2012 and Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. For additional information for what you require when opening a new premises please refer to Council's pre-occupation fact sheet.

Pre-occupation inspection

Before you can begin trading, a pre-occupation inspection must be carried to ensure that your premise complies with the relevant legislation. Refer to the pre-occupation inspection fact sheet for further information for what to expect during this inspection. 

News and resources

Skin penetration fact sheets and forms

NSW Health legislation and Factsheets