The ability to browse, click, purchase, and have your favorite products delivered right to your door is pretty amazing. Online shopping can be a time and money saver, but sometimes the risks outweigh the advantages, particularly when it comes to medical-grade skincare.
The Baylor College of Medicine recently published a piece highlighting some of the potential dangers of buying counterfeit skincare products online—here’s the takeaway.
Did you know certain brands are only available through physicians?
We get it—medical-grade skincare seems a little pricey compared to most drugstore alternatives. And finding your favorite brand or product online for half the cost can feel like a major win. But did you know that it is illegal to sell medical-grade skincare products unauthorized online?
Here’s why. Unlike your average OTC night cream, medical-grade products are formulated with high strengths of active ingredients that require special storage and care. Their sale is also highly regulated because it is important to have a medical professional directing usage and checking on your skin at intervals when using such strong products. So it makes sense that these products are only made available to physicians or doctor-supervised medspas (who, it’s safe to say, don’t make a habit of peddling their wares on eBay).
Research has shown that many of the name-brand, medical-grade products being sold unauthorized online at a discount are often diluted, expired, or even entirely fake with clever packaging. Still sound worth taking a chance? Think again. Due to improper storage and no regulation of these knock-off products, consumers who have used them have reported experiencing:
- Skin burning
- Hyperpigmentation
- Infection
- Rash
- Inflammation
Don’t play Russian roulette with your skin
Working with a skin specialist operating under MD supervision is absolutely worth it. Not only is the insight of an experienced provider invaluable, you can also rest assured that all products being sold are clinically proven safe and effective, at full strength and unexpired, and are properly stored for your safety.
If you’re looking for professional skincare products and services in San Diego, the friendly, highly trained laser and skin specialists at LJC would love to meet with you. When you come in for a complimentary skin evaluation and consultation, you’ll get expert guidance, whatever your budget may be. Our team can help you better understand your skin, suggest treatment options appropriate to your concerns, and make effective product recommendations.
Contact us today to get started! Or, if you want to order your favorite skin care products online from a medical provider you can trust, check out the selection of medical-grade skincare available in our Skin Care Store.
