Stiefel has always been a family-owned company, and for more than 160 years Stiefel family members have steered the ship.

It began in 1847 - a significant year; a year of many great beginnings. That was the year the AMA was founded. Thomas Edison was born. The U.S. issued the first postage stamps. Salt Lake City was founded by Brigham Young. Alexander Graham Bell was born. and that was the year John David Stiefel founded the J.D. Stiefel Company.

Working with pioneer dermatologists Unna and Von Hebra, Stiefel began producing and selling unique soaps containing medicinal active ingredients for the treatment of skin problems. And so, the stage was set for Stiefel Laboratories' commitment to focus exclusively on skin care.

Stiefel's medicated soaps were soon well accepted in European markets, allowing for steady growth in the medicated soap business. Then, in 1910, John's grandson, August Stiefel, introduced several of Stiefel's products to the burgeoning American markets.

After some tough years resulting from two World Wars and the Great Depression, the next generation of Stiefels, August Stiefel's two sons, Werner and Herbert, teamed with their father to begin manufacturing Stiefel soaps and other dermatological products in the United States, opening their new manufacturing facilities in upstate New York. The company's name was changed to Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.

Over the decades that followed, Stiefel experienced remarkable growth and today has bloomed into a company that ranks as the largest privately held dermatological company in the world.

Headquartered in South Florida, Stiefel now offers hundreds of dermatology products - the finest quality skin care formulations available. And with Stiefel subsidiaries and local operations in more than 30 countries, including nearly 4,000 employees, Stiefel now distributes products on all six populated continents, improving the lives of millions of people in over 100 countries.

Stiefel's continued success, along with a steadfast commitment to the advancement of dermatology worldwide, has compelled the company to provide millions of philanthropic dollars each year in support of dermatological research and education. With Stiefel's sights set on new discoveries and improvements, Stiefel also provides significant resources for its own three state of the art Research and Development facilities.