Special treatments licence

Age restricted treatments

Some treatments are subject to minimum age restrictions. You must advertise and operate the Challenge 25 age verification policy when offering these treatments. 

Administering botox type products and dermal fillers is not a licensable treatment but please be aware it is illegal to administer botulinum toxin, or a subcutaneous, submucous or intradermal injection of a filler for a cosmetic purpose to anyone under 18 years old. Botulinum toxin can only be prescribed in a face-to-face meeting by a qualified medical practitioner, such as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist prescriber or nurse prescriber. Dermal fillers should only be administered by an experienced and suitably qualified practitioner. For more details see the NHS website.

Teeth whitening is not a licensable service. You may be subject to legal action by the General Dental Council if you offer or facilitate this service without being an appropriately registered professional.

Age restrictions apply to certain special treatments and procedures. Any cosmetics, such as nail varnishes, or jewellery that you use or supply must comply with product safety requirements as detailed on the next page.

New standard licence conditions for special treatments require licence holders to advertise and operate a Challenge 25 age verification policy. Certain special treatments are subject to minimum age restrictions including;

• tattooing
• use of sunbeds
• body piercing (including ears, nose etc)

Further guidance on Challenge 25 for special treatments premises:

• Challenge 25 age verification policy ^{(PDF, 464kb)}
• Best practice guidance for age restricted treatments ^{(PDF, 189kb)}
• Saying no, avoiding conflict ^{(PDF, 253kb)}

Free signage

You can download free signage to assist advertising Challenge 25:

• Challenge 25 poster - general ^{(PDF, 1.9mb)}
• body piercing ^{(PDF, 50kb)}
• heated spa baths ^{(PDF, 51kb)}
• sunbeds ^{(PDF, 42kb)}
• tattooing ^{(PDF, 47kb)}

Page last updated: 21 March 2024