Cosmeceuticals in Dermatology

The term “cosmeceuticals”, suggested by Kligman more than 20 years ago, refers to topical products that lie in a gray zone where they are viewed as having both pharmaceutical and cosmetic properties [1]. Although the neologism was innovative and relevant, it was rejected from the US Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that, according to the 1938s US Congress, labels as drug every substance for use in the diagnosis, cure, treatment or prevention of disease, and as cosmetic any product intended for beautifying and promoting attractiveness. In spite of this, the term cosmeceuticals has recently been gaining increasing popularity, as the term cosmetic seems to be restrictive for those substances that have druglike beneficial effects. On the other hand, the “cosmeceuticals” concept has caused a lot of confusion, because of similar neologisms such as neutraceuticals and/or neoceuticals. Actually, in USA and Canada, most cosmeceuticals are regulated as over the counter (OTC) products, while in Europe they are considered as cosmetics. Only in Japan, a new class of products, called quasi-drugs, has been created [2].