The controversy surrounding medical-grade skincare is taking the online beauty community by storm.
Without insurance, a prescription for Differin, a common medical-grade skincare product, may set you back $268.04 on average. Contrast this with a tube of Differin from CVS, which costs just $12.79.
The SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic can cost up to $166, and you can only get it at dermatologist clinics, medi spas, or other authorized retailers. Meanwhile, Timeless skincare sells a dupe of this product that costs a mere $17.95.
What is with the exorbitant costs of these dermatologist-approved treatments? Are they even worth the money compared to OTC skincare? Remember, the OTC options often contain the same active ingredients, but retail for much, much less.
What sets medical-grade treatments apart?
Medical-Grade Skincare: Spot the Difference
According to one source, medical-grade skincare contains purer ingredients. Not only that, but they often contain the ingredient at much higher concentrations as well.
Drugstore options might contain 1-3% salicylic acid, while a medical-grade option could contain up to 30% salicylic acid. That’s a big difference, and that’s why medical professionals must prescribe some options.
You don’t want to damage your skin by using the wrong product, and the dermatologist can usually give you advice on what is safe to use. If you are looking for the best anti-aging cream, a professional can give you a dermatologist-approved list of options.
Advocates for this exclusive skincare insist that only the amount contained in medical skincare can effectively treat skin conditions. They say OTC options contain just enough products to be suited for the general population. If you want the most punch per dollar you spend, perhaps medical is the way to go.
Marketers insist that a higher concentration means better-looking skin.
Regulation
One thing to note is that what is considered “medical-grade” is not regulated in any way.
Basically, there are two types of products. Either you need a prescription for it, or it is OTC. Whether a product is considered “medical-grade” is actually a marketing and product distribution choice.
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These days, what is considered “medical-grade” may not even have the highest concentration of the ingredient versus what you can buy without a prescription. In any case, a higher percentage does not always equal higher effectiveness.
You may still want to see a professional because they can recommend skincare options specifically suited to your unique skin type and skin concerns. They may not always recommend marketable and expensive products.
Many dermatologists like to recommend OTC products like Cetaphil and Cerave for basic skin health.
Best Advice
The best advice for determining which skincare products will work? Do your research!
You can consult sites like Reddit, where there are a lot of skincare enthusiasts. You can vet products by word of mouth. You can ask your dermatologist to give you a list of products with different price ranges, and then do your research on them.
Everyone’s skin tolerates topicals differently. What is medical-grade skincare or OTC will never work 100% for everyone.
You can read more about skincare and health in our lifestyle section.
