Brit doctor creates ‘body armour’ make-up to protect women from acid attack
A DOCTOR creates a range of makeup to work as a protective shield against acid after being horrified by the attacks in recent years.
Dr. Almas Ahmed, from Leeds, said that her range of cosmetics will work as “body armor” and women wearing it can simply “wash the acid off their skin with water.”
Speaking at Leeds International Festival last week, she said that the acid attack epidemic spurred her on.
She said: “The UK has the highest rate of acid attacks per capita in the world.
“Since 2017 we’ve had over 2,000 acid attacks and in 2017 acid attacks cost the NHS £2billion.”
“The makeup works by protecting women against acid attacks, it works as body armor.
“If a person is attacked it won’t let the acid penetrate to the skin so the skin is completely intact.
“When a woman is attacked all they need to do is rinse themselves and the acid will wash off.”
“But when I was a medical student I heard about acid attacks and that’s what made me want to create something that will protect women.”
Since 2017 we’ve had over 2,000 acid attacks and in 2017 acid attacks cost the NHS £2billion.
Dr. Almas Ahmed
She first started the project ten years ago after model and presenter Katie Piper
She plans on seeing it on shelves by 2020 and says she it was her dad who spurred her on.
Before heading to London for research, her dad gave her two litres of water. He told her not to drink it because it had bicarbonate of soda in it.
She explained how her dad told her to douse herself in the water if she gets acid thrown at her as it neutralizes it.
Speaking to LeedsLive she said: “I was really shocked that my dad was worried about that. That made me revisit the research and finish it off.”
While the majority of acid attacks in the UK happen in London, there were 43 incidents in West Yorkshire in the three years up to 2018. Four of the victims were officers with West Yorkshire Police.
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At the Leeds International Festival said: “The reason I haven’t sold the idea to a large corporation is I wanted to keep the price as cheap as possible so people who live in countries like Latin America or India, Pakistan that can afford makeup.”
As well as protecting against acid, it’s also completely waterproof and keeps out UV rays.
It also works as a barrier against pollution.
“It lasts longer than any other makeup. It also has a high melting point, so if you accidentally drop boiling water on yourself you’re not going to damage your skin.
As well as helping victims, she’s working with them and psychologists to help victims become as independent as possible.
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