Get in Touch

Who is responsible for your information?

skintap is the data controller for the information described in this notice.

Legal or registered name

Skintap Ltd

Address

Unit 5, 96 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1AD

WhatsApp number

07469 528684

Privacy email

info@skintap.co.uk

Responsible individual

Heather Robinson

What information do we use?

We use your name or patient identifier, mobile telephone number, your recorded choice to join or leave, the date and wording of your opt-in, broadcast delivery information, and any messages you send in reply.

We do not intend to collect clinical information through the broadcast service. However, your membership of a patient update list, or information you choose to send in a reply, may reveal information about your health or your relationship with skintap as messages may still appear in notifications or be seen by anyone who can access your phone. Health information is treated as special-category personal data and is subject to additional safeguards.^[2]

Why do we use it?

We use this information to manage your communication preference, send the non-urgent WhatsApp updates you requested, respond to administrative queries, maintain an opt-out record, and protect the security and proper operation of the service.

Messages may include general clinic news, service updates, patient education, events, or offers. They will not contain individual information, treatment details, or other confidential clinical information.

Our lawful basis

For this optional service, skintap relies on your consent under Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR. Where list membership or message content amounts to information about health, skintap relies on your explicit consent under Article 9(2)(a) UK GDPR. If a message is direct marketing, your opt-in also provides permission to contact you through WhatsApp under the applicable electronic-marketing rules.

Consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous, and it must be as easy to withdraw as to give.^[3] You may withdraw at any time without affecting your care or the lawfulness of processing that occurred before withdrawal.

Who receives your information?

Only authorised skintap staff who need access to administer the service may use this information. We also use WhatsApp, provided by Meta, as the communications platform. WhatsApp/Meta processes information under its own terms and privacy arrangements. Depending on how the service is configured, information may be processed in countries outside the United Kingdom.

We do not sell your personal information. We will disclose it only where it is necessary to operate the service, comply with the law, protect someone’s vital interests, or establish or defend legal rights.

How long do we keep it?

We keep your active broadcast contact details and opt-in record while you subscribe. If you opt out, we remove you from the broadcast list promptly and keep a minimal suppression record so that we can respect your preference.

skintap retention period: 7 years

We delete or anonymise information when it is no longer required, subject to any legal, regulatory, complaints, or record-keeping obligations.

How do we protect it?

skintap uses an organisation-controlled account and restricts access to authorised staff. We aim to collect only the information needed for the service and do not use a WhatsApp group for broadcasts. Please remember that messages may still appear in notifications or be seen by anyone who can access your phone.

Your choices and rights

You may ask us for access to your personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion or restriction where applicable, and a copy of information you provided in a portable format where the legal requirements are met. You may also withdraw consent and object to direct marketing at any time. The rights available can depend on the circumstances and the lawful basis used.^[4]

To leave the broadcast list, reply STOP on WhatsApp or contact info@skintap.co.uk. We will remove you as soon as reasonably possible and update our records. Leaving will not affect your care.

For any privacy request or question, contact info@skintap.co.uk. We may need to confirm your identity before acting on a request.

Complaints

Please contact skintap first if you have concerns so that we can try to resolve them. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Website: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

How to join

Save 07469 528684 in your contacts as skintap, read this notice, and use the link below to open WhatsApp.

I have read the skintap WhatsApp Privacy Notice, and I explicitly consent to skintap using my mobile number to send me optional, non-urgent WhatsApp updates. skintap will record your opt-in before adding you to the broadcast list.

Changes to this notice

We may update this notice if the service, law, or our use of information changes. We will provide an updated notice before using your information for a materially different purpose.

References

1. WhatsApp Help Center, How to use broadcast lists
2. Information Commissioner’s Office, What are the rules on special category data?
3. European Data Protection Board, Process personal data lawfully
4. Information Commissioner’s Office, What privacy information should we provide?