Cosmeceuticals: the new medicine of beauty

Cosmeceuticals represent a new category of products placed between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that are intended for the enhancement of both the health and beauty of skin. Encompassing an ever-increasing part of the skin care industry, cosmeceuticals are formulated from a multitude of ingredients, the main categories of which are discussed in this article. Given the growing interest in these products among patients and the strong claims made by manufacturers, it is important that physicians recognize these agents and understand their benefits, limitations, and potential adverse effects.