Dermatology
- FDA Registration FEI# 1000151293 as a GMP/GLP/GCP Drug Establishment and Cosmetic Facility.
- DEA Registration# RC0199744 (Analytical Lab) | Schedule I-V license | Remember, Schedules I-II require DEA Form 222 | Registration# RC0171568 (Researcher)
- US EPA/NJ DEP Registration# NJD982726648
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation# 80071
Consumers of cosmetics, skincare and personal care want products that they know they can trust.
With more options than ever on the market, it’s no surprise that products that claim to be examined and endorsed by an expert will appeal to them. If you search Ulta Beauty, Target, or any other big retailing website for dermatologist-tested skin care, you’ll get hundreds or even thousands of results.
So, it’s obvious that Dermatologist testing is something that consumers instinctively trust.
If it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be so many products advertising it. But with so many manufacturers touting it, it won’t do much by itself to help a product stand out. After all, the phrase “Dermatologist tested” means just what it says and no more. A dermatologist was involved in testing the product in some way, shape or form. It doesn’t say that anything important was tested, that the dermatologist had hands-on involvement in the testing, and it says nothing about whether the product “passed” or “failed”. Informed consumers recognize that just claiming to be dermatologist tested isn’t enough to earn trust.
What will do that is the right kind of testing, done in the right way by a company that has been earning the trust of industry leaders, since 1975.
CPT℠ has specialized in dermatologist-led substantiation of safety AND claims for 51 years.
Experience has shown us how to deliver on promises to skeptical consumers. We carry out our studies in compliance with the highest standards, relying on Board-certified clinicians and the most advanced equipment available. While we make use of many devices to assist us in measuring product effects, when it comes to identifying the subtle changes a product causes to the skin, nothing can replace the expert eye of a trained professional.
Being able to provide substantiation for product claims isn’t just a matter of earning customer trust.
It’s also a regulatory requirement. While the FDA does not require cosmetics (including skin care, cleansers and makeups) to obtain approval for their claims before marketing, a manufacturer is subject to regulatory actions if products are found later to be “misbranded” (i.e. false/misleading claims and/or omits crucial information).
For product claims to be accepted by regulators (e.g. FDA/FTC), the product effects must be perceivable to an “average” consumer. A trained clinical grader/Dermatologist therefore serves as an accurate means of assessing changes that are far more likely to correlate to consumer satisfaction with the product.
Finally, the claims that are subject to FTC action aren’t just those that are made intentionally. They include the implied claims that consumers would understand are being made in an ad based on features as simple as an actor wearing a lab coat. Claims like these require what the FTC calls “competent and reliable scientific evidence.” This is defined as tests, studies, or other evidence that:
1
Have been conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by experts in the relevant disease, condition, or function, and
2
Are generally accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results.
How CPT℠ Can Help
A product’s intended use is established in part by the claims made by its manufacturer, so it’s easy to see how lack of care with product claims could result in major problems.
Fortunately, CPT℠ has spent decades learning about the complex situations manufacturers face and guiding them through the dilemmas posed by product claims.
In addition to government regulators, products are increasingly being scrutinized by retailers, consumer advocacy groups (e.g. The National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau (NAD)), non-governmental organizations such as the Environmental Working Group and class-action law firms. These organization do not carry the weight of regulations or official sanctions, but ANY claims defense can be a very expensive and time-consuming challenge, oftentimes costing millions of dollars in legal fees and expert testimony.
Are you able to provide this kind of evidence to confirm the claims and safety you make for your products? CPT℠ can!
It’s been the heart of our business since 1975. Our staff are experts in carrying out all kinds of dermatological studies, including studies involving expert clinical grading as well as hybrid studies where instruments are used for measuring features such as wrinkles or spots.