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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Ermis Labs reports that its new medicated skin care bars are being applauded by dermatologists.
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The company said that the products drew an overwhelmingly positive response at the American Academy of Dermatology Summer Conference in Chicago.
The bars are formulated to help relieve such conditions as acne, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, as complements to prescription dermatological products.
“Dermatologists visited the Ermis Labs booth with great excitement to see and feel the new medicated skin care bars,” says vice president of operations Brian McNamara. “They were very happy to see the bars come back into dermatology.”
The Ermis team has over 35 years of combined experience in the pharmaceutical and over-the-counter dermatology space, notes McNamara. “As they watch the current health care picture, it becomes clearer and clearer that the prescription skin care business needs a new partner.”
As tighter managed care rules in the dermatology space force greater use of generic prescription products, the bars offer ideal adjunct therapy, he adds.
Patients need to know that they can “partner” their generic prescription products with well-formulated over-the-counter medicated skin care products, says McNamara. “As mono-therapy, the medicated bars offer skin care results at a very low price.”
The focus of Ermis’ medicated bar program is to provide well-proven molecules in a delivery form that all consumers understand how to use.
Great care was taken to formulate a collection of medicated bars that would not dry the skin. “Historically, medicated bars were focused on delivering the active ingredient,” McNamara notes. “Our focus went beyond the simple delivery of an active ingredient.”
Ermis formulations incorporate vitamin A to keep skin cells healthy, vitamin E to protect skin cells from damaging free radicals, coconut oil to hydrate the skin, shea butter to heal the skin and sea whip coral extract to calm the skin.
The increase in bar popularity, coupled with the impending rise of OTC medicated skin care, makes for a very successful financial outlook, adds McNamara. A 2013 Mintel survey of 2,000 adults found that 50% use bar soap or body wash on their face. This was true across all income levels. In fact, 44% of families with incomes of $150,000 or more reported using bar soap or body wash for facial cleansing.
The lesson is that bar soap is not just for the body but can be used as part of a facial skin care routine, McNamara says. Additionally, bars have seen a resurgence because they last longer and present a better value than washes.
Ermis’ line comprises a 2% pyrithione zinc seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff medicated bar, 10% benzoyl peroxide acne treatment cleansing bar, 2% salicylic acne treatment exfoliating cleansing bar, 1% tolnaftate/9% sulfur antifungal medicated bar, and 0.5% coal tar psoriasis medicated bar.
