Topical Preparations and Prescription Medications in Aesthetics

Topical skin preparations include cleansers, toners, moisturizers, serums, and medications. Other topical applications include eyedrops to stimulate Meuller’s muscle in the eyelids and solutions to promote eyelash growth. There are an astonishing number of brands and formulations of topical preparations, and some are an essential component to skin care. The aesthetics and antiaging market have grown steadily over the last decade, and the consumer has become more savvy and selective. The aesthetic practitioner should be generally familiar with the available topical products and be able to offer appropriate recommendations to their patients. A variety of preparations, absorption properties and effect on the skin, certain ingredients, and intended result will be discussed in this chapter. This section is not intended to prescribe certain treatments or products but instead to provide a foundation of understanding regarding topical treatments and formulations.