The skin forms a large part of how people feel about themselves. Using medical-grade skincare addresses skin problems and makes their skin look and feel better. Medical-grade skincare has been developed to target medical problems, such as acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Medical-grade skincare has a higher concentration of effective ingredients, often advertised as more potent, providing more visible results. Today, several medical-grade skincare brands claim that their products are more clinically tested, have higher strength, and can make medical claims due to their potency.
What Are The Common Ingredients Found In Medical-Grade Skincare?
Most often, medical-grade skincare heavily focuses on active ingredients such as acids, retinoids, and vitamin C. These ingredients can be great for some skin types if they are well tolerated but consider that active ingredients’ high concentrations or complex combinations of potent ingredients aren’t always best for the skin. More often than not, less is better.
Below are the most common ingredients of medical-grade skincare products:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Glycolic acid
- Ferulic acid
- Kojic acid
- Ceramides
- Tranexamic acid
- AHA or alpha hydroxy acids
- Resveratrol
- Retinol
- Lactic Acid
What Are The Benefits of Using A Medical-Grade Skincare?
The benefits of medical-grade skincare are specific to the individual and their respective skincare challenge. The products rely on the latest science to create unique formulas that can’t be found anywhere. To emphasize, only seek products that have been thoroughly tested and vetted for results, not those famous brands that don’t have the science to back up their marketing claims.
Medical-grade skincare lines can often site studies that explain their distinct benefits, so consumers would exactly know when to incorporate it into their routine. Also, the lines in medical-grade skincare are often more upfront when disclosing how their products are tested, answering common questions whenever it comes time to select a new product, such as dermatological testing, and if they’re tested on animals.
While the designation “medical skincare” sounds intense, many times, these products have been crafted in smaller batches, are more naturally derived, and have not been tested on animals, compared to more prominent brands that tend to obscure this kind of information.
What Makes Medical-Grade Skincare Better Than The Other Products?
Some medical-grade skincare products contain active ingredients that are classified as drugs. For instance, topical medical-grade acne treatment can claim to treat acne because it has the drug Benzoyl Peroxide. This is a strong chemical compound that is effective in treating acne.
On the other hand, a non-medical–grade skincare product cannot contain Benzoyl Peroxide since it lacks drug clearance. So, it’s likely that the medical-grade product containing BP will be more effective in treating acne in a short time than the product without it.
In addition, over-the-counter products cannot claim to treat wrinkles or even dry skin because of their “cosmetic” classification. In other words, cosmetic products are simply not medical-grade caliber as they don’t have the potential to guarantee results as medical-grade skincare can.
Also, there are a few key differences between medical-grade skincare versus those mainstream products.
- Limited Purchasing Power: Before, medical-grade skincare could only be bought in a doctor’s office, but it is now sold online by authorized retailers specializing in this product level. Also, getting this type of skincare product from a medical spa or dermatologist’s office gives an advantage since clients can receive personalized guidance and specific product recommendations.
- Stability: The best medical-grade skincare is formulated with more highly stabilized ingredients, which take longer to deteriorate than mainstream products. They also have greater absorption, meaning these results-driven ingredients are delivered more profound into the skin. However, while it’s a small number, some companies only use trace amounts of active ingredients coupled with synthetic additives that aren’t effective and false claims.
- FDA Regulation: Since the FDA doesn’t regulate over-the-counter products, they can’t penetrate beyond the top layer of skin. OTC formulas also can’t make any medical claims, such as treating a particular skin condition. Since medical-grade skincare is regulated, it can provide claims and safely penetrate the skin on a deeper level.
Who Should Use Medical-Grade Skincare?
Under specific circumstances, medical-grade skincare products have different places in a skincare routine. Still, the average person with a routine skincare regimen without specific skin complaints may not need to use medical-grade skincare.
Some skincare challenges and conditions, such as hyperpigmentation, can occur due to several sources, such as hormones, sun damage, and inflammation, which may benefit from potentially better absorption and higher quality ingredients. However, those suffering from hyperpigmentation might want to test out medical-grade skincare, as recommended by their doctor, to see if there’s a difference and improvement in skin health and tone. There are very few options for treating pigmentation issues, and it’s hard to navigate which method might be best.
Does It Require A Prescription From A Doctor?
Medical-grade skincare products do not require a prescription from a doctor. Some medical-grade skincare lines sell both medical-grade skincare and products that do require a prescription.
How To Identify If A Skincare Line Is Medical-Grade?
It can be tricky figuring out if a skincare line is actually medical-grade, especially when shopping online. A medical-grade skincare line must have clinical research that backs up its claims of the reported benefits. The best way to ensure a medical-grade line is to talk to a doctor or dermatologist and see which products they recommend.
What Are The Precautions When Using Stronger Products?
For those with sensitive skin or a skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis, certain ingredients in medical-grade products can cause irritation, redness, and inflammation. This is why it’s best to consult a physician before experimenting with a new routine.
Potent or concentrated active products can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, leaving the skin worse for wear. Often brands, particularly medical-grade skincare brands, will advertise high concentrations of ingredients, which can seem appealing. Since the skin barrier is delicate and needs gentle, opt for brands that focus on balancing barrier support and active ingredients.
The Bottom Line
Nurturing the skin could include a medical-grade skincare regimen in the routine that helps maintain and reach skincare goals. With healthy, well-cared-for skin, you’ll start glowing and ready to take on whatever comes your way every day. ZI Bloom offers Medical-Grade Skincare products based on science; they have been thoroughly researched, but they have also been repeatedly tested and cleared by the FDA for client use.