Why a £1.48 box of paracetamol is no different to a 37p option

Despite buzzwords like 'targeted' and 'rapid relief', branded versions of paracetamol and ibuprofen are the same as generic versions - Getty

We constantly make purchases for our health and wellbeing, whether it’s an essential like painkillers and shampoos or a splurge on the latest skincare. But how often do you consider whether you’re choosing the right one?

Bold promises, bright packaging and recognisable brand names reel us in but aren’t always worth splashing out on. Here, dietitians, dermatologists and dentists have shared the products they avoid buying and the most effective swaps you can make.

Ditch: Targeted and branded painkillers

Despite buzzwords like “targeted” and “rapid relief”, branded versions of paracetamol and ibuprofen (costing as little as 37p and 39p, respectively) are no different to generic versions – even though they can be up to four-times as expensive.

This is because UK law sets out that all painkillers must be bioequivalent (get the active drug into the body as effectively as each other), explains Simon Gaisford, a professor of pharmaceutics at University College London.

“So if a consumer wants plain old ibuprofen or paracetamol, a generic product is absolutely equivalent to a branded product,” he says.

Swap for: Unbranded ibuprofen and paracetamol

It’s not worth splashing out on painkillers that appear to specifically target back, migraine or period pain because they all work in exactly the same way: by blocking the pathway that sends a pain signal to the brain.

“When you take a painkiller, the drug ends up in the blood and is distributed through the whole body — you will therefore reduce the pain signals from all parts of your body,” says Prof Gaisford. “If you had a headache for instance and you stubbed your toe, one pain killing tablet would suffice for both.”

“Fast-acting” and “express” painkillers may be the only case where paying more for painkillers could be worth it. These versions shoot the drugs into our system at a faster rate than standard painkillers – in around 20 minutes rather than 40, Prof Gaisford adds.

“Sometimes this is achieved by making a salt form of the drug,” Prof Gaisford says. “Salts usually dissolve faster in water.” Or the drug may be a liquid-filled gel capsule, which also gets into the system faster than hard tablets, he notes.

“A consumer could benefit by buying the express or fast-acting products, but it would make a difference of minutes at best,” Prof Gaisford says. “I would advise generic versions of ibuprofen or paracetamol on cost grounds.”

Ditch: Detox teas

Tea is fantastic for our health as it’s packed with polyphenols, such as flavanols and tannins, which act as antioxidants. But it is concerning that some claim to offer a detox, says Aisling Pigott, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association.

Detox teas cure a variety of ailments, including bloating and low energy, while also boosting the immune system, if you believe the packaging.

“Detox means removing toxins from our body,” she says. “Our body’s are naturally capable of detoxing – our liver and kidneys do this already. Tea does not and can not detox us.”

At best, detox teas can hydrate us and offer a small amount of nutrients, Pigott says. But some options contain harmful ingredients, such as laxatives, which harm our health – especially our gut, she notes.

Swap for: Regular and herbal teas

People should swap these teas for whatever other tea they enjoy, she recommends. “Many darker tea blends (breakfast tea, for example) will be higher in tannins than herbal teas like chamomile, green or mint,” Pigott says. However, herbal options are great for hydrating and unwinding, she adds.

To grasp the other health benefits detox teas claim to offer, people can up their fibre and fluid intake to reduce bloating; take a vitamin D supplement in winter for a stronger immune system; and eat nutritious foods to boost energy, she adds.

Ditch: Collagen creams

Collagen is a skin anti-ageing buzzword for a reason – it’s a protein that gives our skin structure, volume and elasticity. Levels fall as we age, which causes sagging and wrinkles.

So it makes sense that collagen is a go-to ingredient for skincare aiming to improve the signs of ageing.

However, these won’t replenish your body’s collagen levels. “Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin and cannot be delivered to the deep skin structures where they are needed most to restore skin structure,” explains Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, a consultant dermatologist at King Edward VII’s Hospital.

Hefty promises made on collagen cream packaging include that they will restore skin, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and leave skin youthful.

“Anti-ageing creams such as those containing large molecules such as collagen or ‘extracts’ are unlikely to make a significant difference,” says Dr Rhonda Meys, a consultant dermatologist of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group. “The public has become used to creams making claims such as this – so we have become somewhat oblivious to the lack of credibility they have.”

Swap for: High-factor sun cream and retinol

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix achieving age-defying skin. Preventing damage in the first place continues to be the advice from experts. As well as ageing, sun damage, smoking and alcohol all grind down the body’s collagen production abilities.

“The key is to look after the collagen you have in your skin by avoiding UV exposure – high factor sunscreen is always your best ‘anti-ageing’ product,” Dr Borysiewicz says.

Everyone should apply around 2.5 to 5ml of sunscreen every morning and follow other methods of sun protection, including sitting in the shade and wearing a hat. “This reduces skin ageing to a much greater degree than any other anti-ageing creams,” Dr Meys says.

However, the products that do have evidence of anti-ageing effects include prescription topical retinoids, peptides and vitamin C or E, which are available as serums and stimulate collagen production, both dermatologists note.

Microneedling (when thin needles are used to make tiny holes in the top layer of your skin) is offered by some clinics and can help these ingredients be more readily absorbed, Dr Borysiewicz adds.

Ditch: Caffeine shampoos for hair loss

In response to receding hairlines or bald patches, caffeine shampoo seemingly offers a relatively cheap and accessible solution – you can get it for around £5 a bottle from most pharmacies and supermarkets.

However, there’s little to no evidence it can reverse male pattern hair loss – when hair recedes from the temples and becomes depleted on the top of the head. It is the most common cause of hair loss and the group these products target, says Dr Meys.

Studies have found caffeine present in the bloodstream of people using these products but it’s unclear if this correlates to hair growth, while other lab-based research suggests the shampoo can boost hair growth and reduce hair fall. “However, these studies don’t necessarily prove efficacy, are conducted in a small number of subjects and are usually funded by the manufacturer,” notes Dr Meys.

Swap for: Minoxidil

It’s important that anyone looking to tackle hair loss first gets a diagnosis on the cause, such as pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium (sudden hair loss due to stress), alopecia areata (when the immune system attacks hair follicles) or rarer forms of scarring hair loss (caused by trauma such as an infections, burns or chemicals), she adds.

Then patients can be prescribed the most effective treatment, which could include topical minoxidil (foams and solutions that increase blood flow to the hair roots, helping with growth). “There is good evidence for its long term use in male and female pattern loss,” Dr Meys says. However, side effects can include skin irritation, low blood pressure and chest pain. It’s also not available on the NHS and costs around £20 a month.

For preventing hair loss in the first place, eating a varied diet, limiting stress and ensuring a healthy level of vitamins, including iron, folate and vitamin D and B12, can be important, Dr Meys adds.

Ditch: Mouthwash (unless you have an oral problem)

Most households will have a bottle containing the fluorescent-coloured liquid within reach of their bathroom sink. But mouthwash may just be an unnecessary addition to your toiletries.

“The analogy I use is, if you’ve got a bath with a layer of scum and you just tip your cleaning products all over it, it won’t get the scum off, you need a brush or a sponge” says Dr Zoe Brookes, an associate professor of dental education and research at the University of Plymouth.

“You need some elbow grease. We call mouthwash an adjunctive in dentistry – something to supplement teeth brushing rather than an essential part of it.”

There are only three specific scenarios when mouthwash could be helpful, she says.

One is to prevent tooth decay. For people who have a high sugar diet or can’t brush their teeth properly, such as due to a disability, a mouthwash that contains fluoride can be used between morning and evening brushing (after lunch, for example) for extra protection.

“But the average healthy person with a good diet and good tooth brushing doesn’t necessarily need it,” says Dr Brookes. “I don’t use it because I brush my teeth and don’t eat lots of sugar, so I don’t have a high risk of tooth decay, and then I don’t see the point of adding something extra.”

Mouthwash may also help with bleeding gums, as it can kill the bacteria behind the symptom. “But if you’ve got really bad gum disease, mouthwash will never get into the really deep areas where the bacteria live,” Dr Brookes explains. “Dentists would say you’re better to use interdental brushes, rather than mouthwash.”

People with bad breath may also choose to use mouthwash. “However, it’s a bit like using a flowery body spray to mask body odour instead of going for a wash,” Dr Brookes says. “It might be a short term fix but it doesn’t really cure the problem. What you really want to do is go and solve the problem – you want to brush your teeth and get rid of the bacteria.”

Using mouthwash also risks needlessly altering your oral microbiome – the combination of bacteria in the mouth that regulates health and disease. “If you’ve got no problems, why would you try and use a mouthwash that is going to kill all the good bacteria in your mouth as well as the bad ones?” she says.

Swap for: Flossing or interdental brushes

For people with good oral health, they should brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, last thing at night and either 30 minutes before or after breakfast when the enamel is less soft, Dr Brookes says. They should also add in flossing or interdental brushes (depending on the size of the gaps between the teeth), as a toothbrush can’t get into these pockets. “I would also recommend an electric toothbrush because it works really well at the gum line,” Dr Brookes adds.

If you are using a mouthwash, it definitely shouldn’t be used after brushing. The liquid contains less fluoride than toothpaste, so will dilute the benefits of fluoride for your teeth. “I tell my patients if they use mouthwash after brushing, either forget it, or use it at some other time in the day instead,” she adds.

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