Doctor creates world's first protection makeup from acid attack

Almas Ahmed has developed a non-reactive formula which can be added to any cosmetic product

Acid attacks can devastate a person both mentally and physically, and statistics suggest that the incidents are only occurring more frequently. A British doctor has claimed to create the world's first makeup add-on which will be prone to acid attacks and protect victims' faces from being disfigured, reported The Independent.

Inspired by Katie Piper, who suffered an acid attack in 2008 by her ex-boyfriend which left her with various facial injuries including blindness, Dr Almas Ahmed has spent the last 10 years to develop a non-reactive formula called Acarrier, which can be added to any cosmetic product.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Ahmed's waterproof compound has a high boiling point which means that it will protect the wearers from getting fire-related injuries. It will also prevent the caustic material in the acid to react with the skin. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she said that she started developing the add-on when she was in medical school. Ahmed added, "I kind of forgot about the issue but this summer, when I saw that there was lots of acid attacks in the news, it made me want to revisit the idea and finish it off. That’s why I have come to this stage now.”

The doctor also explained that adding her Acarrier to makeup that individuals already own does not change its aesthetics. She stated, "It works very well. It blends like a normal foundation and you can apply it to different kinds of products such as eyeliners, mascaras, lipsticks and even nail varnishes.”

PHOTO: INDEPENDENT

Ahmed is currently awaiting approval from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). However, she confidently shared that her product has been tested and works perfectly. The Bradford-based medic hopes to get her invention to the shelves by next summer. In the UK, acid attacks have been on the rise with incidents increasing by 0.3% between 2015 and 2017. The first half of 2017 experienced approximately 400 attacks which roughly equates to two incidents per day.

According to Assistant Chief Constable of Suffolk Police and National Police Chief Council, the UK currently has one of the highest rates of reported acid and corrosive substance attacks per capita in the world.

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