Dermatologically tested is a term you can find on many cosmetics products. Luckily, it does not automatically indicate animal testing. However, dermatological tests can still be conducted on animals.
What Does Dermatologically Tested Mean?
Dermatologically tested means the test is carried out by an independent laboratory under the supervision of a dermatologist. After the test, the dermatologist provides their opinion on the product’s safety on the skin.
Dermatology is a health field that deals with the skin. As well as with the treatment of diseases affecting the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes.
The term “dermatologically tested” appears everywhere. Without knowing better it seems that there is a complex testing behind it. However, dermatologically tested definition is just that the product is tested in the presence of a dermatologist.
The term “dermatologically tested” is not regulated. Therefore, the cosmetic world has no unambiguous requirements for the use of this label. So, cosmetic brands can use the term somewhat freely.
Most dermatologists use the patch test system to check for allergic reactions and skin compatibility. This means that the volunteers have the product applied to their skin and then checked by a dermatologist after a predetermined time whether the product seems safe or not.
The generally accepted meaning of “dermatologically tested” is associated with:
- the product has been tested on human skin
- the formula is safe when applied to the skin
- tests determined that the product does not cause skin reactions or allergies.
“Dermatologically tested” does not provide the info on:
- how the tests are done
- how often and for how long the product is used
- the amount of product used
- the specific part of the body where the product was tested
- specific data on test results.
So, the absence of specific rules means that it is up to the dermatologist to figure out how and under what conditions the product has to be tested. Therefore, one can never be sure how long the test period lasted and how many people participated in the experiments. And were the tests conducted on humans at all?
Unfortunately, the “dermatologically tested” label often leads to the assumption that the product is always safe for sensitive skin. But that is not always the case. And vice versa. So just because a cosmetic product has not been dermatologically tested does not mean it is unsafe.
For this reason, it is worth taking a closer look at the ingredients of skin and body care products. These give a precise indication of what a product contains.
Are Dermatologically Tested Products Tested On Animals?
Dermatologically tested implies that the product has been tested under the supervision of a dermatologist. Whether it was done on animals or humans, cannot be inferred from this expression alone. So, dermatological tests could also have been tested on animals.
There are two common misconceptions, neither of which is actually true:
- dermatologically tested cosmetic products are always tested on animals
- dermatologically tested product is always cruelty-free.
In fact, dermatologically tested only implies that a dermatologist has evaluated the product. As already mentioned, this term does not define how long, in what way, or on whom. Therefore, it is not possible to tell whether dermatologically tested products have been tested on humans or animals simply by looking at the product.
In Europe, for example, animal testing is not allowed, so all dermatologically tested products sold in the European Union should only be tested on humans. However, the surest way not to contribute to animal suffering is to buy products that have vegan and cruelty-free certifications.
Does Dermatologically Tested Mean Cruelty-Free?
Dermatologically tested does not mean cruelty-free. Dermatological tests can be carried out on animals. In some cases brands conduct animal testing on their products and label the packaging dermatologically tested after those tests. This means these products are not cruelty-free as they have been tested on animals.
However, dermatologically tested does not always mean animal tests. Thus dermatologically tested products can be cruelty-free. Modern methods such as tests on human cells can achieve the same or better results while being more cost-effective.
What Does Tested On Animals Mean?
Tested on animals mean the products have been tested on animals to make sure they are safe for human consumption.
FAQ
Dermatologically tested does not necessarily mean that the product is tested on animals. However, it could. The term implies that the product has been tested under the supervision of a dermatologist. Whether it was done on animals or humans, cannot be inferred from this expression.
Dermatologically tested does not necessarily mean that the product is tested on humans. However, it could. The term implies that the product has been tested under the supervision of a dermatologist. Whether it was done on animals or humans, cannot be inferred from this expression.
Dermatologically tested products are not necessarily vegan. The term only implies that they have been tested under the supervision of a dermatologist. It has nothing to do with the ingredient list.
The “dermatologically tested” label often leads to the assumption that the product is always safe. But that is not always the case. As the term is not regulated, every dermatologist can figure out how and under what conditions the product has to be tested. Therefore, one can never be sure how long the test period lasted and how many people participated in the experiments.
Dermatologically tested means the test is carried out by an independent laboratory under the supervision of a dermatologist. After the test, the dermatologist provides their opinion on the product’s safety on the skin.
Summary
The label “dermatologically tested” does not necessarily mean that the product is tested on animals. However, it could.
Dermatologically tested only means that the product has been tested under a dermatologist’s supervision. The purpose of such tests is to ensure that the product does not cause skin irritation, dryness, or redness before it is launched on the market.
However, this is usually the only definition of the term. On whom, in what way and for how long the dermatological tests are carried out is not certain. Therefore, it is possible that some dermatological tests are made on animals.
See also: Great Vegan Beauty Brands To Try Out
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Sources:
- Brighton Dermatology. What Does Dermatologist Tested Mean? What Do They Test? 2016
Link: https://www.brightondermatology.com.au/what-dermatologist-tested-mean/ - Dermaviduals. Dermatologically tested – what does it mean? 2021
Link: https://dermaviduals.de/english/skin-topics/question-answer/dermatologically-tested-what-does-it-mean.html - Schmidt, C. What Does “Dermatologist Tested” Even Mean? 2022
Link: https://www.formulate.co/journal/p/dermatologist-tested
