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The Use of Cosmeceuticals in Acne: Help or Hoax?

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Abstract

The use of cosmeceuticals by patients with acne is common; however, their role is unclear and confusing, with many asking, “Do they really help acne?” Cosmeceuticals are intermediate products between prescription medications and cosmetics, available to consumers over the counter. These products are popular and may be used without the direct supervision of a dermatologist, creating a practice gap in educating patients. Herein, a variety of cosmeceuticals are discussed, including retinoids, niacinamide, and glycolic acid. The evidence for and against cosmeceutical use in patients with acne is reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Penn State/Hershey Medical Center, HU14, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17022, USA

    Brittany S. Barros & Andrea L. Zaenglein

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Penn State/Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA

    Andrea L. Zaenglein

Authors
  1. Brittany S. Barros
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  2. Andrea L. Zaenglein
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Correspondence to Andrea L. Zaenglein.

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The authors did not receive funding for this manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

B.S. Barros and A.L. Zaenglein have no conflicts of interest with regard to the material presented herein.

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Barros, B.S., Zaenglein, A.L. The Use of Cosmeceuticals in Acne: Help or Hoax?. Am J Clin Dermatol 18, 159–163 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0249-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0249-6

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