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General remedies in cosmetology
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Currently, the following groups of medications are used to treat various dermatoses in dermatocosmetology: antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral agents, glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, retinoids, and less commonly cytostatic and immunosuppressive drugs. In order to correct various hormonal disorders in acne, rosacea, and menopausal skin aging, oral contraceptives with an antiandrogenic effect, hormone replacement therapy, and other drugs are used after examination by a gynecologist-endocrinologist or endocrinologist. When managing patients, it is important to find out their allergy history, and when prescribing certain general-action agents, it is necessary to remember about drug interactions (potentially dangerous drug combinations). These include combinations of antihistamines with sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives and neuroleptics (chlorpromazine) or a combination of sulfonamides with oral antidiabetic agents, diamino-diphenylsulfone with methotrexate and rifampicin, isotretinoin with vitamin A and tetracycline antibiotics, etc. Glucocorticoid hormones should also not be prescribed with vaccines, anesthetics and sympathomimetics (adrenaline, ephedrine), and salicylates with indomethacin, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine and oral anticoagulants.
In addition to traditional dermatological preparations, vitamins, macro- and microelements, antioxidants, and immunomodulators are widely used in cosmetology.
Scientific research and practical experience of recent years have shown the high efficiency of oral medications that meet the so-called "concept of beauty from within". Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, H (biotin), PP and others, as well as macro- and microelements: zinc, calcium, copper, silicon, etc., have the greatest impact on the functional state of the skin, hair, and nails. In this regard, combination medications that include various vitamins and microelements are currently quite widely used.
A special role in skin aging, dryness and increased transepidermal water loss is attributed to a deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids in the body. In this regard, drugs containing omega fatty acids are prescribed for these conditions.
Parapharmaceuticals are widely used. In particular, it is known that supplementing a standard diet with antioxidants can compensate for the deficiencies in the body's defense system against free radicals that occur with aging skin.
Antioxidant effect has been noted in various groups of preparations: carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, etc.), flavonoids, ascorbic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), some enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, etc.). The indicated agents are included in a number of combination preparations.
Exogenous melatonin is also used as an antioxidant. It is known that this substance is produced in humans in the pineal gland - a neuroendocrine organ that is closely connected with the hypothalamus and peripheral endocrine glands. Therefore, melatonin is also prescribed to restore the circadian system of an aging organism. The drug is recommended to be taken at the beginning of the dark phase of the day; it regulates the disturbed sleep-wake rhythm.
For endogenous photoprotective purposes, as well as for artificial skin coloring, agents containing a lipochrome such as carotene are prescribed.
In modern anti-age cosmetology, peptide bioregulators of cytomins are used. Cytamins are natural complexes of proteins, nucleic acids, trace elements and minerals (copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium and other vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, retinol acetate, a-tocopherol). Cytamins help stimulate differentiation and function regulation of various cell populations. Thus, chondramin is used to activate collagen and elastin synthesis, vasolomine for vascular bioregulation, pancramine for liver and pancreas function, tyramine for thyroid function, suprenamine for adrenal function, and renisamin for effective excretion of metabolic products by the urinary system. The preparations are used in complex therapy of scars, acne, prevention and correction of signs of skin aging. Dosage: 2 tablets of each cytamin 2-3 times a day 5-10 minutes before meals.
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