Causes (1)
- Sunburn
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Botox injections
- Laser resurfacing
- Wrinkle creams: Your guide to younger looking skin
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continued:
Wrinkle creams: Your guide to younger looking skin
No guarantees: Assessing safety and effectiveness
The FDA classifies creams and lotions as cosmetics, which are defined as having no medical value. So the FDA regulates them less strictly than it does drugs. This means that products don't need to undergo rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before approval to go on the market.
The FDA does step in, however, when advertisements portray cosmetics as drugs or when cosmetics contain ingredients that may pose a potential health hazard to consumers. For example, in 2002, the FDA ordered manufacturers of products containing alpha hydroxy acids to include a warning label stating that the acids may increase the risk of sunburn.
Because the FDA doesn't evaluate cosmetic products for effectiveness, there's no guarantee that any over-the-counter product will reduce your wrinkles.
Consider these points when judging the merits of using a wrinkle cream:
- Lower doses. Nonprescription wrinkle creams contain lower concentrations of active ingredients than do prescription creams. So results, if any, are limited and usually short-lived.
- Latest research. Research suggests that certain ingredients may improve wrinkles. However, most anti-wrinkle creams haven't been subjected to the comprehensive, objective research required to prove this benefit.
- Cost. Cost has no relationship to effectiveness. Just because a wrinkle cream is more costly, may not mean that it's more effective than a less-costly product.
- Daily use. You'll likely need to use the wrinkle cream once or twice a day for many weeks before noticing any improvements. And once you discontinue using the product, your skin may return to its original appearance.
- Side effects. Some products may cause skin irritation, rashes, burning or redness. Be sure to read and follow the product instructions to limit possible side effects.
Your anti-wrinkle regimen
An anti-wrinkle cream may lessen the appearance of your wrinkles, depending on how often you use it, the type and amount of active ingredient in the wrinkle cream, and the extent of the wrinkles you want to treat.
But if you want to take the guesswork out of your skin-care regimen, try these more reliable ways to improve and maintain your skin's youthful appearance.
- Protect your skin from the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light speeds up the natural aging process of your skin, causing wrinkles and rough, blotchy skin. In fact, sun exposure is the No. 1 reason for aging signs in the skin, including uneven pigmentation. Protect your skin — and prevent future wrinkles — by limiting the time you spend in the sun and always wearing protective clothing and hats. Also, use sunscreen when outdoors, even in winter.
- Choose products with built-in sunscreen. When selecting skin-care products, choose those with a built-in sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also, be sure to select products that block both UVA and UVB rays.
- Use moisturizers. Dry skin turns plump skin cells into shriveled ones, creating fine lines and wrinkles long before you're due. Though moisturizers can't prevent wrinkles, they can temporarily mask tiny lines and creases.
- Don't smoke. Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. It also damages collagen and elastin — fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.
If you're concerned about the appearance of your skin, see your dermatologist. He or she can help you create a personalized skin-care plan by assessing your skin type, evaluating your skin's condition and recommending products likely to be effective. If you're looking for more dramatic results, a dermatologist can recommend medical treatments for wrinkles, including prescription creams, botulinum toxin (Botox) injections or skin resurfacing techniques.
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- Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Archives of Dermatology. 2007;143(5):606-612.
- Stern RS. Treatment of photoaging. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350(15):1526-1534.
- Chiu A, et al. Topical vitamins, minerals and botanical ingredients as modulators of environmental and chronological skin damage. British Journal of Dermatology. 2003;149(4):681-691.
- Rados C. Science meets beauty: Using medicine to improve appearances. FDA Consumer Magazine. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/204_beauty.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
- Mature skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_mature.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
- Labeling for topically applied cosmetic products containing alpha hydroxyl acids as ingredients. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ahaguid2.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
- Rabe JH, et al. Photoaging: Mechanisms and repair. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2006;55(1):1-19.
- Renova (tretinoin cream). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2002/21108s1lbl.pdf. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Cosmeceutical facts and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/general_cosmeceutical.html. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
