Conclusion
A botanical ingredient is always more intriguing when it is associated with a history of traditional folk medicine. In terms of potential dermatologic applications, herbs that have been used to treat various cutaneous conditions are even more compelling. For the many plants and plant constituents gaining favor in research and development, there is a wide range of evidentiary support. But there is a notable dearth of research to support the claims of effectiveness for edelweiss in topical formulations. Much more research is necessary to establish edelweiss as a useful ingredient in skin care, though the scant data available are promising. Much of the research does appear to be coming from a small group of investigators. I would like to see their work duplicated and built on by several more teams.