Should Cosmetology Take Advantage of Dermatology?

I recently went to the dermatologist and found this business card of interest. It’s for a woman named Karen Colegary, who is a Senior Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. What really caught my attention was the fact that a makeup person left business cards in plain sight at a dermatologist’s office.

Of course it’s a great marketing opportunity, but should cosmetology take advantage of dermatology so bluntly?

When I first saw the business card, I thought that Karen Colegary was really taking advantage of patients’ vulnerabilities and their low self esteem, whether they have acne or a skin disease. I felt as though it was kicking people while they were down.

Then, I thought about it a little bit more. Perhaps it’s giving patients the answer they’re looking for as soon as they think about the question. It’s right there in the waiting room. People visiting the dermatologist are probably thinking to themselves, “how can I hide this?” I know I thought that way when I had severe acne.

I’m on the fence about going with either option as a definite one since I feel strongly about both. Do you think that this marketing technique is ethical or crosses a line? Feel free to let me know in the comments section below!