Cosmeceuticals: Everyone is Talking About It!

Cosmeceuticals refer to products that are cosmetic in nature, but are pharmacy grade and thus must be administered by a medical professional.  Cosmeceuticals have seen a lot of buzz by patients who are looking to see real results to their skin without an invasive procedure or are looking to add to their surgical benefits and to optimize healing after a procedure. 

Skincare products are classified into two separate categories by the FDA: pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.  Topical pharmaceuticals penetrate into the layers of your skin and create a biological effect on the structure and function of the living layers of skin.  Cosmetics are applied to the non-living layers of your skin in order to cleanse, beautify and promote attractiveness.  Cosmetics will only change the appearance of your skin until you wash off the product.  Topical pharmaceuticals will actually change the way your skin grows and is structured.  Prior to approval, pharmaceuticals must complete many years of safety testing and testing of effects which can cost millions of dollars.  They must be able to substantiate their claims through test results.  Cosmetics on the other hand do not have to prove their claims. 

Cosmeceuticals refer to cosmetic products that have pharmaceutical properties.  Since these products penetrate the layers of skin and biologically make changes, they must be administered by a medical professional.  That medical professional will consider your skin type and condition in order to find the right product or combination of products to treat your skin.

So why should you choose a cosmeceutical products versus a mass-marketed cosmetic product at the drug store?  Here are some reasons:

• In order to create any benefits or results, a product must be able to penetrate the layers of your skin.  Only topical pharmaceutical grade products can do this.
• Over-the-counter cosmetic products are manufactured and distributed in mass quantities.  They are often packed with as many preservatives as active ingredients and will sit for months on warehouse shelves before being sent to retailers.
• Cosmeceuticals can be tailored to your skin care needs and concerns.  Over-the-counter cosmetics are created to be tolerable by all skin types and thus have less effectiveness.

It is essential that you  meet with a skin care professional, such as an esthetician, to determine exactly what your skin care needs and concerns are before choosing products for your skin.    An esthetician will be able to tailor a skin care regimen containing topical pharmaceutical grade products to exactly your skin type.  These types of consultations are usually complimentary at any doctor’s office, and are always complementary at Quinn Medical Day Spa.  If you would like some more information about the cosmeceuticals carried in our medical day spa, please check out our website or call Tracy at 913-663-5483.