Survey finds 9.3 bil. yen in insurance claims for "beauty cream"

Health insurance providers have paid out an estimated 9.3 billion yen ($82 million) in claims for a cream used by some people as a cosmetic beauty treatment, a survey by an industry body has found.Demand for the Hirudoid branded ointment, normally prescribed to treat atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, spiked as consumers began to see it as a cheap and effective cosmetic skin moisturizer after it was touted in magazines and on the internet.The huge bill was run up by consumers in 2015-2016 despite public health insurance law allowing only prescriptions for the treatment of illnesses, i…READ FULL ARTICLE