The Healthy Skeptic: Seeing through skin supplements’ claims
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Rating
The Healthy Skeptic: Seeing through skin supplements’ claims
Our Review Summary
We only wish the column had added a brief note about concerns about harms from antioxidants and a bit more about why the evidence cited by manufacturers is so inconclusive.
Why This Matters
“Fountain of youth…anti-aging…youthful skin” product claims demand scrutiny. They got it in this column. We wish this same approach would be applied more often to the broad range of health care products and claims.
Criteria
Satisfactory
The Healthy Skeptic column – as it usually does – included cost information.
Satisfactory
The story states that “there’s still some hope that antioxidants can help the skin, but the resuits likely aren’t as dramatic as the companies suggest.”
It also raises some questions about the benefits suggested in a couple of studies.
Not Satisfactory
The column goes half way to where we wish it would go – but we wish it would just add a line or two.
When it discusses one study of 36 adults, we wish it would emphasize how little conclusion can be drawn from such a tiny study.
When it discusses an unpublished, company-funded study, we wish it would more explicity delineate the red flags that should arise in readers’ minds.
Satisfactory
No disease mongering of “youthful skin.” In fact, it shoots down many claims.
Satisfactory
Two independent expert sources were cited.
Not Satisfactory
The story could have discussed other research into approaches to protect healthy skin – even the basics of sun protection.
Satisfactory
The availability of the skin supplements is made clear in the story.
Satisfactory
No inappropriate claims of novelty are made. In fact, one source says “these products are over-hyped.”
Satisfactory
It’s clear that the story involved independent reporting and vetting of claims.
Total Score: 7 of 10 Satisfactory
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