Medical Review Policy
When medical review
is required—and what it covers.
Not every skincare page needs medical review. Some topics are primarily practical or cosmetic, while others involve safety, diagnosis, contraindications or treatment decisions.
This policy explains how Skin Candid decides when medical review is required and what a medical reviewer is responsible for checking.
Core principle
Medical review is assigned by risk and subject matter—not for decoration.
A medical reviewer’s name should not be added simply to make a page look more authoritative. Medical review is used when clinical accuracy, safety boundaries or escalation guidance genuinely require medical expertise.
A page is credited as medically reviewed only after the named reviewer has actually completed the relevant review.
Medical review is normally required
Topics with meaningful clinical or safety implications receive a higher review standard.
Diagnosable skin conditions
Content about acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, infections, persistent rashes or other conditions that may require diagnosis or treatment.
Safety and contraindications
Claims involving pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, medication interactions, contraindications or significant adverse effects.
Prescription and medical treatments
Pages discussing prescription retinoids, antibiotics, procedures, injectables, devices or medical-aesthetic treatments.
Red flags and escalation
Guidance about when symptoms may need professional assessment, urgent attention or a change in treatment.
High-risk claims
Statements about treating disease, preventing harm, reversing pathology or producing clinically significant outcomes.
Uncertain or conflicting safety evidence
Topics where the available evidence is limited, mixed or difficult for a general reader to interpret safely.
Medical review may not be required
Some pages are primarily editorial, practical or navigational.
These pages can still require sourcing and editorial review without needing a medical reviewer.
Examples
- Basic category and directory pages
- Routine organisation without medical claims
- Texture, packaging and usability discussions
- Simple product comparisons without safety implications
- Navigation, glossary and introductory hub pages
- Editorial and commercial policy pages
What still applies
- Accurate sourcing
- Clear limitations
- Conflict and commercial disclosures
- Editorial review
- Practical skincare review when appropriate
- Scheduled updates
Medical reviewer responsibilities
The reviewer checks clinical boundaries—not every design or editorial decision.
Clinical accuracy
Checks that medical statements, terminology and treatment descriptions are accurate and appropriately qualified.
Safety boundaries
Reviews contraindications, adverse effects, pregnancy guidance, interactions, warnings and risk-related language.
Escalation guidance
Checks when the page advises readers to seek professional assessment or stop self-management.
Claim strength
Reviews whether the wording matches the actual strength and limitations of the available evidence.
What medical review does not mean
A medically reviewed page is still general education.
Medical review does not turn a page into personal medical advice, a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.
It does not guarantee that every product, ingredient or treatment is suitable for every reader. Personal history, medications, allergies, pregnancy status and existing conditions can change what is appropriate.
Relationship with practical skincare review
Medical and practical review answer different questions.
Medical review asks
- Is the clinical information accurate?
- Are safety boundaries clear?
- Are contraindications and red flags covered?
- Does the wording overstate the evidence?
- Should professional assessment be recommended?
Practical skincare review asks
- Is the routine realistic?
- Is the application advice usable?
- Are tolerability and layering explained clearly?
- Does the recommendation make sense in daily life?
- Can the reader follow the guidance without unnecessary complexity?
A practical reviewer does not approve medical claims. A medical reviewer does not automatically determine product usability, routine convenience or everyday skincare experience.
Review process
Medical review is documented as part of the page trust record.
Requirement identified
The page type, claim type and safety profile determine whether medical review is required.
Reviewer assigned
A named medical reviewer is assigned only when they are expected to complete the actual review.
Claims checked
Medical and safety claims are reviewed against the assigned sources, evidence level and limitations.
Changes resolved
Required corrections, qualifications or escalation guidance are incorporated before completion.
Status recorded
The page records reviewer, review status, review date and next scheduled review.
Future changes monitored
Meaningful evidence, safety or treatment changes may trigger a new medical review.
Publication rule
Required medical review cannot be bypassed.
If a page requires medical review, it cannot reach trust-ready status without a named medical reviewer and a completed medical-review status.
Suggested reviewers, planned assignments and internal notes are not treated as completed review.
Reviewer identity and credentials
Credentials must be represented accurately.
Skin Candid records reviewer roles, professional scope and credential-verification status separately.
A reviewer profile should not imply verified credentials until verification is complete. Reviewer descriptions must remain within the person’s actual professional scope.
Updates and re-review
Medical review is not permanent.
A page may require re-review when the evidence, treatment guidance, product formula, safety profile or professional recommendations materially change.
Scheduled review
Relevant pages receive a next review date based on topic risk and how quickly the information may change.
Evidence change
New research or updated professional guidance may trigger an earlier review.
Safety change
New warnings, contraindications or adverse-event information may require immediate reassessment.
Reader correction
Credible reports of possible medical inaccuracies are investigated and escalated when appropriate.