A clinical study for skincare is a scientific research method that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of products, treatments, or ingredients under controlled conditions. These studies are designed to provide evidence-based results about how skincare products perform when used by real people. Clinical studies are not legally required and most brands opt out, due to cost, time, risk and marketing preference.

A consumer perception study for skincare is a type of market research that focuses on gathering subjective feedback from actual consumers about their experience using skincare products. Unlike clinical studies that emphasize objective measurements, consumer perception studies prioritize how users feel about and perceive the product's performance.

The Fitzpatrick scale is a numerical classification system used to categorize human skin color and its response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Developed in 1975 by Thomas Fitzpatrick, a Harvard dermatologist, it's widely used in dermatology, cosmetics, and skincare to determine appropriate treatments and product recommendations. The Fitzpatrick scale helps dermatologists assess skin cancer risk, determine appropriate laser treatment settings, guide sunscreen recommendations, and customize skincare regimens. In clinical studies, it's an essential tool for ensuring diverse participant selection and analyzing how treatments perform across different skin types.

The scale consists of six types:

• Type I: Ivory skin that always burns, never tans
• Type II: Fair skin that burns easily, tans minimally
• Type III: Medium skin that sometimes burns, gradually tans
• Type IV: Olive skin that minimally burns, tans easily
• Type V: Brown skin that rarely burns, tans darkly
• Type VI: Deep brown to black skin that never burns, always tans

"Peer reviewed" in a dermatological clinical trial means that the study and its results have undergone evaluation by independent experts in dermatology before being published or presented. This review process is a critical quality control step that helps ensure the research is scientifically sound. It is a higher level of scientific credibility since the findings have been scrutinized and validated by objective third-party experts.

The diversity research gap in dermatology refers to the significant underrepresentation of diverse skin types and ethnicities in dermatological research and clinical studies. This gap has created disparities in how skin conditions are diagnosed, treated. For skincare brands, addressing this research gap represents both an ethical responsibility and a business opportunity. By conducting inclusive clinical testing that encompasses the full range of skin types and ethnicities, brands can develop more universally effective products while also contributing to closing this significant knowledge gap in dermatological science. This commitment to diverse research helps ensure products work effectively for all consumers while advancing more equitable skincare science.

A white paper in dermatology is a specialized document that provides in-depth, evidence-based information about dermatological conditions, treatments, research findings, or clinical methodologies. For a skincare company, a dermatology white paper might present clinical study results for a product line, explain the scientific mechanism behind a proprietary ingredient, or discuss the effectiveness of specific formulations for different Fitzpatrick skin types.