Dermatologist Review of Elta MD

EltaMD™ is manufactured and marketed by Swiss American Products, Inc. of Dallas, Texas. EltaMD reflects Swiss American’s commitment to the medically based skin care community as the products are distributed through physicians. Elta’s complete product range is diverse and includes offerings in skin care, sunscreen, massage therapy and wound therapy. Swiss-American Products, Inc. was founded on the principle that the use of medically accepted products in daily skin care can help solve and prevent a wide range of skin and wound problems. Swiss-American’s complete product line includes silver antimicrobial products, protease-enhanced products, a complete offering of wound care dressings, moisturizers, sun blocks as well as products for incontinence, wound healing, massage, psoriasis and eczema. In the past four years Swiss American has enhanced its focus on innovation and applied for no less than seven product development related patents.

EltaMD was originally launched by Swiss American as Elta Gold a few years ago. At that time, Elta Gold consisted of a limited offering of high quality zinc oxide containing sunscreen products. In 2007, the Elta Gold line was expanded and rebranded as EltaMD. The EltaMD brand reflects its distribution through physicians who dispense skin care products to their patients as part of treatment and preventative skin care recommendations. The founders of EltaMD have the philosophy that responsible and innovative application of medical expertise and science will change the way physician-dispensed skin care products treat people.

Today EltaMD offers ten products including six sunscreens, three moisturizers and one facial cleanser. EltaMD made its mark with sunscreen and the offering remains rich in sunscreen options. The six EltaMD sunscreens are distinct and serve defined niches. All EltaMD products contain zinc oxide in combination with either titanium dioxide or chemical sunscreen ingredients.

EltaMD’s original sunscreen formulations include two SPF 30+ products, one for the body and another for the face. The facial SPF 30+ product is designed to provide both broad spectrum sun protection and moisturization. The SPF 30+ product designed for the body comes in a convenient 8 oz. pump bottle that makes it user friendly and long lasting. Both SPF 30+ products have the same mix of zinc oxide, octinoxate and octisalate actives. EltaMD’s original offering also includes a very water resistant SPF 50 product containing higher concentrations of the actives found in the SPF 30+ products as well as an oil free SPF 45 product containing zinc oxide and octinoxate.

In 2007 EltaMD released two new sunscreens in concert with its rebranding from Elta Gold. One of these is a hyaluronic acid containing SPF 40 facial sunscreen called EltaMD UV Daily that provides another EltaMD option for those seeking a moisturizing broad spectrum facial sunscreen. The other new offering is a sunscreen containing only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide actives, UV Physical SPF 41. This product is ideal for those with a history of sensitivity to multiple chemical sunscreen actives.

EltaMD also offers three moisturizers. The first is a body lotion available in an 8 oz. pump. The second is a creamier lotion designed primarily for the face and the last is a heavy balm designed for traumatized skin such as occurs after laser or peeling therapy. This balm is aptly called ‘Laser’ and reflects Swiss American Products’ expertise in wound therapy. EltaMD also offers a facial cleanser that is designed to be non-sensitizing.

EltaMD products have been marketed to dermatologists for several years and are available at dermatologist offices across the nation. The products are intelligently packaged and nicely branded. Tubes and pumps, for example, are used exclusively with the exception of the Laser Balm which requires a jar due to viscosity. Also, the packaging is color coded; SPF products have orange accents and the remainder of the line has blue accents.

EltaMD’s facial cleanser and moisturizers will likely be most appreciated by those with particularly sensitive or reactive skin. The cleansing and moisturizing products are fragrance free and designed to be non-irritating. EltaMD sunscreens are becoming increasingly popular and remain the highlight of the EltaMD product line. My experience has been that products containing both physical and chemical sunscreens do a particularly good job of minimizing the risk of sunburn and the accumulation of sun damage while remaining relatively cosmetically elegant. EltaMD products are, with the intentional exception of UV Physical SPF 41, combination products containing both physical and chemical sunscreen agents. EltaMD has done a great job of providing value by offering generous sunscreen container volumes at a reasonable price point. I particularly like the concept of having a larger container size for the SPF 30+ product marketed for body application.

EltaMD has established a solid reputation for quality sunscreen and is now expanding that reputation into complementary skin care products. The products are well packaged and well marketed with a nationwide network of physician supporters. EltaMD provides quality and value in its sunscreen offering and this combination suggests a bright future for the product line.