Cosmeceuticals as OTC drugs or OTC drug-cosmetic products
Cosmeceuticals as OTC drugs usually referred to as OTC drug-cosmetic products and used for the
- Prevention, diagnosis, cure, or treatment of a disease.
- They contain active ingredients, in addition to cosmetic ingredients and the FDA regulates such products.
- Cosmetic ingredients are used in such products to provide them with appropriate aesthetics, texture, pH, color, and smell as well as to fulfill the cosmetic claims, and active ingredients deliver the claimed therapeutic action i.e., to prevent, and/or treat a disease.
- Active ingredients for cosmetic products are listed in either OTC monographs or new ingredients.
- OTC drug-cosmetic products are classified based on target groups, dosage forms, legal status, application surface, functions, and others, as described below,
- Target groups: Aimed to target a specific group of customers including men, women, teenagers, and babies.
- Dosage forms: Aim to form a specific physical form i.e., the final physical form of a mixture of ingredients that customers can take in their hands, purchase, and use.
- Legal status: The product can be a cosmetic, a drug, or a combination of both, depending on the intended use.
Examples of OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A suntan product is a cosmetic but a sunscreen product is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A deodorant is a cosmetic but antiperspirant is a OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A skin exfoliant is a cosmetic but a skin peel is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A skin product to hide acne is cosmetic but an anti-acne product is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A skin moisturizer is a cosmetic but a wrinkle remover is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- An antibacterial deodorant soap is a cosmetic but an antibacterial anti-infective soap is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A lip softener is a cosmetic but a product for chapped lips is an OTC drug-cosmetic
- A shampoo is a cosmetic but an anti-dandruff shampoo is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
- Toothpaste is a cosmetic but an anti-caries toothpaste is OTC drug-cosmetic products
- A mouthwash is cosmetic but an anti-gingivitis mouthwash is an OTC drug-cosmetic products
Make sure you also check our other amazing Article on: Cosmetics as Quasi drugs
