Skin Care Products 101
By Andrea Bailey, PVPS Aesthetician
Question: What is the difference between OTC and medical grade skin care products?
Answer: There is actually a big difference; the depth into the skin in which they work is the main difference. OTC products only work on the very surface of the skin, which is dead tissue. However, medical grade products work deeper into the skin, at the live cellular level, where the real difference takes place. This is due to a legality that only licensed professionals can provide you with products and treatments that work in live tissue.
Question: I have been using high-end department store skin care products for years. Why is medical grade the better choice?
Answer: Although many OTC (both department store and drugstore brands) now contain important ingredients, such as antioxidants, peptides and exfoliants, the vehicle that can deliver these ingredients to live tissue is not present. Medical grade products do contain the vehicle to deliver these key nutrients to the live cells of the epidermis and the dermis.
Question: Is there also a difference between medical grade products and spa-grade products?
Answer: Yes. Medical grade products may also contain prescription ingredients (i.e. retinoic acid, 4% hydroquinone) which are only available from a licensed medical provider; spas simply cannot provide these products with prescription ingredients.
To experience the most efficacious skin care products available, schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our highly experienced aestheticians.
