Pharmaceutical cosmetics have gradually entered our skincare lives. With numerous brands and care categories, it can be overwhelming and often leaves people feeling at a loss for what to choose. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle. Let us present to you the colorful world of pharmaceutical cosmetics. Understanding pharmaceutical cosmetics will allow you to confidently select the right products for yourself.
The Origin of Pharmaceutical Cosmetics
In 1938 in the United States, beauty products were defined as: after use, they do not chemically alter or have any impact on the skin structure. Based on this view, all products applied to the skin could not contain drugs that affect humans. It wasn't until 1961 when Raymond Reed, the founder of the American Society of Cosmetic Chemists, attempted to break through the narrow legal boundaries with the term "pharmaceutical cosmetics." In the 1980s, under the relentless promotion of dermatologist Albert Kligman in the U.S., many cosmetic companies collaborated with the American Red Cross to introduce pharmaceutical cosmetics, which lie between cosmetics and medicines, into Europe.
What are Pharmaceutical Cosmetics?
In some Western developed countries, when people encounter skin issues, they no longer blindly purchase various cosmetics from stores and use their skin as a testing ground. Instead, dermatologists prescribe and provide targeted skincare recommendations, ranging from cleansing products, auxiliary rehabilitation products to maintenance products (such as sunscreen, eye creams, etc.).
Characteristics of Pharmaceutical Cosmetics:
1. Generally, the formulas of pharmaceutical cosmetics are fully disclosed and do not contain recognized allergens.
2. Carefully formulated by dermatological experts, these products undergo strict allergy testing and clinical applications.
3. Produced strictly according to pharmaceutical standards, effectively improving physiological skin problems.
The biggest difference between pharmaceutical cosmetics and regular cosmetics is that their formulas are always kept as simple as possible, avoiding synthetic pigments, synthetic fragrances, benzene-based preservatives, etc. Most regular cosmetics only act on the surface of the skin, whereas pharmaceutical skincare products contain more active ingredients that can deeply improve internal skin issues.
What are Pharmaceutical Cosmetics? Are They Medicines?
Medicines
Active Ingredients: The concentration of active ingredients is the highest.
Applicable Objects: Suitable for patients with severe skin diseases.
Usage Effect: Aimed at "treatment," directly altering the patient's skin condition. Effects are rapid and obvious but sometimes come with side effects.
Channels: Prescribed by doctors and purchased at hospitals or pharmacies.
Pharmaceutical Cosmetics
Active Ingredients: The concentration of active ingredients is lower than that of medicines.
Applicable Objects: Can be used regardless of whether the skin is healthy or has issues such as sensitivity, fragility, damage, or mild dermatitis.
Usage Effect: Possess restorative and skin improvement functions, less irritating than medicines, gently improving skin conditions.
Channels: Hospitals, pharmacies, drugstores, and professional beauty consultants who have undergone long-term training are available for guidance.
4 Major Functions of Pharmaceutical Cosmetics
1. Enhancing Skin Tolerance
Active substances contained in pharmaceutical cosmetics, such as mineral water, plant extracts, and biotech components, deeply repair the hydrolipidic film and help increase the skin's own resistance.
2. Assisting Skin Recovery
In European and American countries, many doctors recommend the use of pharmaceutical cosmetics to patients in dermatology departments for resisting external damage, controlling sebum secretion, inhibiting acne, and other issues.
3. Deep Skin Repair
Due to the small molecules in pharmaceutical cosmetics, they can penetrate the stratum corneum and act on deeper layers of the skin, achieving repair from the inside out.
4. Post-Operative Care
After undergoing dermabrasion, laser treatments, or other aesthetic surgeries, gentle pharmaceutical cosmetics can be used for post-operative care. These products effectively protect the delicate skin after surgery and avoid causing irritation.
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Phone: 010-67338888
Contact Address: Beijing Chaoyang District, Jin Song Bridge or Jin Song Building, eastward meters to Nongguangli, which is Nan Molifang Road No. Related articles: Becoming a pharmaceutical cosmetics expert - A comprehensive review of pharmaceutical cosmetics knowledge.