Insights into Cosmeceuticals

A cosmetic is “intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance” while a drug is “intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, i.e. it affects the structure and function of the body.” Cosmeceuticals attempt to interface between a pure cosmetic and a drug. They are those which lie between a prescription and a non-prescription over-the-counter product. They are medical products, which are cosmetics, with functional benefits for the skin, hair, and nails. Cosmeceuticals are disease-treating and disease-modifying. Dermatologists form a unique interface between products with perceived advantages and those with proven efficacy. In an attempt to hard-sell products with minimal side effects, certain compounds may contain subtherapeutic doses of topical agents hence rendering them ineffective. On the other hand, certain products may form a useful bridge with a safety profile better than cosmetics in their class. This article reviews commonly available and evolving cosmeceuticals, their rationale, side effects, and use in dermatology practice with the aim to sensitize dermatologists about their perceived usefulness.