There is a lot of discussion about cruelty-free and vegan skin care and beauty products happening out there right now. At our practice, patients want to take excellent care of their skin and their overall health, but many of them also want to make sure they are doing so in a manner that meets their environmental and philosophical values. As medical professionals, our goal is always to help patients navigate their health care challenges in the most successful way possible. When patients bring the conversation around to vegan and cruelty-free products, we always try to provide honest, helpful insight.
Kira Schachinger P.A.-C says, “The move towards cruelty free and vegan skin care and beauty products is exciting. There are obviously a lot of factors that go into the medical decisions we make in dermatology, and the patient’s comfort and safety are always paramount. It will be interesting to keep learning what patients and consumers want from their beauty products, and to see how the industry responds. As medical professionals, we consider the best skin care routine and treatment options on a case-by-case basis. Overall, we anticipate there being more interest in how skin care and beauty products evolve.”
Dr. Daniel Peraza adds, “The uptick in interest in cruelty-free and vegan products is undeniable. I join my colleagues in the field in the belief that we have an opportunity to educate patients about the advantages, myths, and challenges of these products. We try to remain aware that every patient is unique, with individual concerns and questions. Understanding vegan and cruelty-free products and being able to offer informed advice about them is a natural part of our job, just as we deliver expertise on how to treat and manage eczema, melanoma, and acne.”
Kira points out that it is always important to pay attention to labels and language as they can frequently be confusing.
“A vegan product means there are no animal-derived elements, but it does not automatically mean that it is a good skin care option. Vegan products could still have lots of chemicals in them, in addition to essential oils, which can be irritants that end up aggravating a condition. Any product on the shelf has to have a preservative in it to prolong its life. Additionally, some patients are looking for natural products, that are not necessarily vegan. While it is understandable that many people would not want to use a product with beef tallow in it, beeswax might be a different story. It’s all about what works best for you and your skin.”
For more information on cruelty-free and vegan skin care products, and to shop products available through Peraza Dermatology Group, visit today.