TREATING ROSACEA WITH COSMECEUTICALS

Depending on who you ask, everyone has their own opinion about the best way to treat your rosacea. The woman at the cosmetic counter will tell you rosacea is a cosmetic condition and advise a makeup or cosmeceutical. 

Cosmeceutical is a fairly new term in the skin care industry which is derived as a combination of cosmetic and pharmaceutical. Let it be known the FDA does not recognize this as a legitimate term or category thus there is little to no government regulation of these products. 

The term cosmeceutical came in to use to describe products which contain a weaker active ingredient than a similar prescription strength product with the intent being to have you believe you will get the same or similar results. An example of a cosmeceutical would be anti-aging or anti-wrinkle creams purchased over the counter that contain retinol marketed as being similar and more affordable than Retin-A a prescription medication. The over the counter product frequently contains a very much diluted active ingredient and will generally not produce the same effects as its stronger prescription strength counterpart. 

You often see the term cosmeceutical used in over the counter rosacea treatments. This does not mean the product is not effective but it does mean that it is not subject to the same guidelines or regulation as a rosacea pharmaceutical product or treatment would be.

In fact many of these products may contain several ingredients known for their beneficial properties but when used in combination can actually make your skin worse.  When it comes to an effective treatment of rosacea, fewer ingredients, lower strength and a lighter application can produce bigger, better results.