Our Methodology

How DermaProtocol evaluates evidence, grades ingredients, and maintains editorial independence.

How We Evaluate Evidence

DermaProtocol exists to help people make better decisions about skincare, supplements, and nutrition for skin health. Every claim on this site is grounded in published research, and we are transparent about how strong — or weak — that evidence is.

We do not chase trends, amplify marketing claims, or recommend products based on popularity. We read the studies, assess their quality, and present what the evidence actually supports.

Our Evidence Grading System

Every ingredient and recommendation on DermaProtocol carries an evidence grade. These grades reflect the quality and consistency of available human research for specific outcomes — not our personal opinions.

Strong Evidence

Multiple randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in humans with consistent, meaningful effects. The evidence is robust enough to inform confident recommendations. Example: tretinoin for wrinkle reduction.

Moderate Evidence

Some RCTs with generally positive results, but limitations exist — small sample sizes, short durations, or inconsistent findings across studies. Useful evidence, but with caveats. Example: oral collagen peptides for skin hydration.

Limited Evidence

Few human studies, primarily observational data, or only pilot/preliminary trials. Promising but not yet reliable enough for confident recommendations. We note what exists and what is missing.

Emerging

Primarily in vitro (cell culture) or animal studies. May have theoretical basis but lacks meaningful human evidence. We include these ingredients only when they are widely discussed and consumer interest is high, with clear labelling of the evidence gap.

How We Select and Review Ingredients

Our process for evaluating ingredients follows a consistent methodology:

1. Identification. We prioritise ingredients based on consumer relevance, search demand, and clinical significance. We cover what people are actually using and asking about.

2. Literature search. We search PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library for human studies relevant to skin health outcomes. We prioritise systematic reviews and meta-analyses when available, then RCTs, then observational studies.

3. Quality assessment. We evaluate study design, sample size, duration, blinding, conflict of interest disclosures, and whether outcomes are clinically meaningful (not just statistically significant).

4. Evidence grading. We assign grades per specific outcome, not per ingredient overall. A single ingredient may have Strong evidence for one use case and Limited evidence for another.

5. Practical translation. We convert findings into actionable guidance: effective concentration ranges, timing, combination compatibility, realistic timelines, and common mistakes.

6. Ongoing review. Published content is reviewed and updated as new significant research emerges. Every page carries a “last reviewed” indicator.

What We Do Not Do

We do not accept payment from brands or manufacturers to feature, review, or recommend their products.

We do not present animal or cell-culture studies as evidence that something “works” in humans.

We do not use proprietary or hidden scoring systems. Our evidence grades are based on publicly available research that anyone can verify.

We do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. DermaProtocol is educational decision-support, not medical advice.

We do not make claims that exceed what the research supports. If the evidence is weak, we say so.

Sources We Use

Our primary sources include:

PubMed / MEDLINE — The standard biomedical literature database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Cochrane Library — Systematic reviews considered the highest standard of evidence-based healthcare evidence
Google Scholar — For broader coverage including dermatology journals, nutrition research, and cosmetic science publications
Regulatory databases — FDA, EMA, and TGA databases for safety and approved claims data

We cite specific studies inline where they directly support a claim. General background knowledge is synthesised from multiple sources without individual citation.

Editorial Independence

DermaProtocol has no financial relationship with any skincare brand, supplement company, or manufacturer. Our recommendations are based entirely on published evidence.

If we introduce affiliate links or partnerships in the future, they will be clearly disclosed on every relevant page, visually separated from editorial content, and will never influence our evidence assessments or recommendations. Revenue considerations and editorial decisions will remain structurally separated.

Limitations

We are transparent about what this site cannot do:

We are not dermatologists, and this content does not replace professional medical advice
Evidence grades reflect published research, which has its own biases (publication bias, funding bias, geographic bias)
Skincare research is often funded by ingredient manufacturers, which we note where relevant
Individual responses to ingredients vary significantly based on genetics, skin type, environment, and overall health
Our coverage is selective — we cannot review every ingredient or product on the market

Contact and Corrections

If you believe any content on DermaProtocol contains an error, misrepresents a study, or needs updating based on new evidence, we want to know. Accuracy is our primary obligation. Contact us at corrections@dermaprotocol.org.