Scientifically Rational Herbs

There are a number of well-known, commonly used medicinal botanicals incorporated into many cosmeceuticals that have not been studied in any dermatologic human trials but have demonstrated biologic effects in nondermatologic diseases, in vitro, in vivo, or animal models. The lack of FDA regulation allows companies to formulate these herbs into skin care products and market them. Cosmeceuticals that lack human clinical data, contain herbs with only in vitro scientific data, contain subtherapeutic concentrations, lack documented delivery systems for the herbal molecules, and lack proof of chemical stability of the formulation should be viewed with great skepticism by clinicians.