Cosmeceuticals in day-to-day clinical practice.

As one of the hottest and fastest growing segments of the natural, personal care industry, Cosmeceuticals are employed to carry out numerous functions, such as preventing UV damage, reducing free radical formation, improving the skin lipid barrier, brightening and unifying skin tone, smoothing texture and reducing pore size. Vitamins and botanicals encompass a large component of the cosmeceutical market, much of which has yet to be clearly defined or regulated. It can be difficult both for the dermatologist and the consumer with respect to choosing the right regimen from the plethora of over the counter choices as well as being informed regarding potential risks and side effects. In fact, dermatologist receive minimal training with respect to this highly tapped and growing genre of topical products. There is clearly a need to research the composite active ingredients of these over-the-counter materials to further characterize their structures, develop means of deriving purified samples from clarified sources, define interactive mechanisms with the skin, and, ultimately, demonstrate efficacy and safety via evidence based means.