What’s the difference between over the counter, physician dispensed and prescription skincare? Over-the-counter (OTC) skincare refers to products that you can buy at your local drugstore, beauty store or high-end department store without a prescription. OTC cosmetic products aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medical-grade skincare products can only use ingredients approved for OTC use, though many of them are backed by clinical studies and adhere to FDA regulations. Many medical-grade products, like the ones sold at Studio Essex Medical Spa, are sold exclusively through doctors’ offices, but they don’t require a doctor’s order. Prescription skincare products have been approved by the FDA and can only be prescribed by a licensed physician. These products have rigorous scientific backing proving their safety and efficacy for treating medical skin conditions. Most commonly prescribed skincare in aesthetics is Tretinoin.
What are the benefits of physician-dispensed skincare? It probably seems like everywhere you turn that is a product that can “cure this” and “cure that”. Physician-dispensed medical grade skincare in Houston are designed to target specific cosmetic conditions and are often more effective than OTC products. When recommended by an aesthetic provider, medical-grade skincare products may be more effective. They often have higher concentration of active ingredients and backed clinical research for their results.
How much does a good skincare routine cost? The best skincare routine is the one you are going to use. If you’ve never used skincare before, jumping into a 8 step skincare routine isn’t probably realistic or the best for your pocket book. We suggest starting with the minimum and then building up your routine. Most skincare routines start at $200 and go up from there, it just depending on how often a product is used. Remember the products we offer are physician dispensed brands so a little tends too goes a long way. Often times the recommended use might not be larger than a pea size.
How long until I see results from my skincare products? Don’t be fooled by the advertising behind major over-the-counter skincare brands. The science behind skincare products have come a long way, but unfortunately there is no such things a quick fix. With our clinically proven physician-dispensed skincare products you’ll see results in as little as 4-6 weeks, but sometimes it takes longer. Results are only seen through consistent use.
I am intimidated by skincare, what’s the bare minimum approach? For patients new to a skincare routine, we suggest our Getting Skin Ready® (GSR®) trio. This regimen is designed to address the most common skin concerns without going into targeted treatments in 3 simple steps. Step 1. Cleanse. Step 2. Exfoliate Step 3. Tone. When you are ready to start a more targeted approach, we can add-on additional products to treat your other concerns.
