Do Cosmetics Promise More Than They Can Deliver?

Americans spend a lot of money on creams, lotions and other cosmetics that promise to improve their skin, hair, and even eyelashes.

But sometimes those promises go too far.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns cosmetics companies when they make claims about their products that classify them as drugs, not cosmetics. FDA has issued warning letters citing drug claims associated with topical skin care, hair care, and eyelash/eyebrow preparations, noted on both product labeling and Web sites. Some examples of the drug claims cited are acne treatment, dandruff treatment and hair restoration.

These letters state that the products are being marketed with drug claims—indicating that they are intended to treat or prevent disease, or change the body’s structure or functions. The agency tells companies that they need to remove any drug claims from their products’ labeling or seek FDA approval to market these products as drugs.

“Consumers need to know that these drug claims have not been proven to FDA when they are making a decision to purchase one of these products,” says Linda M. Katz, M.D., MPH, director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. “These products must be evaluated by FDA as drugs before the companies can make claims about changing the skin or treating disease.”

Some of the drug claims have included promises to increase production of collagen and elastin, resulting in skin that is more elastic and firmer, with fewer wrinkles.

Some get even more specific, such as claims that products reduce inflammation, regenerate cells, prevent facial muscle contractions, boost activity of genes, or give you the same results as injections or surgery. Others promise to treat medical conditions, such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis.

Cosmetics or Drugs?

Federal law defines a cosmetic, in part, as a product designed for “cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.” The law does not require FDA approval of cosmetics before they go on the market.

A drug is defined, in part, as a product “intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,” or “intended to affect the structure or any function of the body.” Drugs generally are subject to FDA review and approval before they can be marketed.

According to Katz, many companies have crossed the line between saying that their products will enhance a person’s appearance to stating that they will make structural changes to the skin, and even prevent or treat certain medical conditions.

Katz adds that FDA has been tracking claims made about cosmetic products for several years and has seen a proliferation of unlawful, claims on the Internet and on product packaging. “You walk into a store and see shelves of wonder products. If they’re going to be making drug claims, the products need to be evaluated as drugs,” she says.

If companies fail to comply, FDA may take additional action beyond a warning letter, which could include removal of a product from the market.

Jane Liedtka, M.D., a dermatologist at FDA, explains that the agency regulates many skin creams and lotions as drugs, such as products used to treat acne or psoriasis. These products make specific therapeutic claims that FDA reviews to make sure they are accurate, she says.

So faced with the possibility that some cosmetic skin products might be making drug claims that haven’t been evaluated by FDA, how can a consumer choose the right cream or lotion?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, Liedtka says.

But in general, products intended to cleanse or beautify are generally regulated as cosmetics. Products intended to treat or prevent disease, or affect the structure or function of the body, are drugs.

Some products are both cosmetics and drugs. Examples include anti-dandruff shampoos and antiperspirant-deodorants, as well as makeup with SPF (sun protection factor) numbers. They must meet the requirements for both cosmetics and drugs, as applicable.

What if a skin product comes with the suggestion that it can turn back the biological clock? Consumers might think that these products can be used as effectively as, or instead of, more costly procedures, Liedtka says. “If a skin cream says it works better than a facelift … well, people wouldn’t be getting facelifts anymore.”

That’s a sentiment that Katz shares. “If a product seems too good to be true,” she says, “it probably is.”

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products. Click here to find out more.

you may also like

Recipes We

Khela88

Fancywin

Jita Ace

Betjili

https://betvisa1.org/

jeetbuzz লগইন

jeetwin app

baji999

winbuzz

betvisa login

winbuzz

six6s

babu88

marvelbet

krikya

mostplay

4rabet

leonbet

pin up

mostbet

all rummy app

Fastwin

Jitawin

R777

Bhaggo

PBC88

Winbdt

Crickex

Betjee

Glory Casino

Jita Bet

Melbet

Jwin7

Jita Ace

Krikya

Six6s

Betjili

Mostplay

Jeetbuzz

Jeetwin

Mostbet

Baji999

Marvelbet

Betvisa

Mcw

Nagad88

Babu88

Jaya9

babu88 babu88 jeetwin abbabet nagad88 marvelbet melbet mostbet six6s crickex mcw casino baji999 betvisa krikya mostplay crazy time jeetbuzz 79king1 good88 11bet xoso66 nohu78 xin88 nohu90 v9bet fastwin betvisa
jeetbuzz
babu88
babu888
jeetwin
nagad88
jaya9
khela88
mostplay
baji999
abbabet
1xbet 12bet marvel bet 91 club betvisa login baji999 sky247 gugobet lotus365 yolo247 bsport loto188 bsport site 8day xoso66 v9bet rummy deity yono rummy new88 typhu88 jeetbuzz dafabet lotus365 bet88 v9bet đăng nhập thienhabet 188bet link dafabet login betvisa king567 yolo247 login 1xbet login 24betting 91club crickex kubet new88 hi88 jun88 w88 shbet mksports 33win f8bet 123b fb88 vn88 mu88 five88 bk8 w388 gnbet mcw casino thienhabet sodo casino cmd368 bsport eubet sbobet mibet cmd368 Faridabad Satta Satta King 786 Dafabet betvisa yono rummy rummy apk

alo789

https://metalwave.com.mx/app/

https://meisetio.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/ai/index.php?tunnel=alo-789

https://purneauniversity.ac.in/assets/js/mk/?tunnel=baji999

fastwin

fastwin

winzo

winzo

futemax

Kèo nhà cái

bongdadzo

Tỷ số bóng đá

KQBD

Kết quả bóng đá

rummy nabob

hi88

8day

97win

n88

red88

king88

j88

i9bet

good88

nohu78

99ok

bet168

satta king

satta matta matka

Canais Play

ALO789

yono rummy
rummy deity
rummy nabob
rummy wealth
daman games
jeetbuzz
yolo247
baji999
rummy gold
188bet
v9bet
789bet
crickex
1xbet
thienhabet
c54
sky88
33win
79king
kubet
shbet
good88
3king
nohu
lucky88
97win
xoso66
xin88
daga88
yolo247
jeetbuzz
betvisa
jeetwin
baji999
nagad88
babu88
mostplay
babu888
jaya9
khela88
jaya9
khela88
jeetbuzz
betvisa
abbabet
babu88
babu888
jeetwin
nagad88
jaya9
joya 9
khela88
mostplay
marvelbet
baji999

Sponsored From Malaysia

말레이시아에서 후원