Causes (1)
- Sunburn
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
Prevention (1)
- Best sunscreen: Understand sunscreen options
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Wrinkle creams: Your guide to younger looking skin
- Laser resurfacing
- Botox injections
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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 undergo the same rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness that topically applied medications undergo before approval to go on the market. Regarding this category of creams and lotions, the FDA's main concern is safety, not effectiveness.
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:
- Cost. Cost has no relationship to effectiveness. A wrinkle cream that's more costly may not be more effective than a less-costly product.
- Latest research. Research suggests that certain ingredients may improve the appearance of wrinkles. However, most anti-wrinkle creams haven't been subjected to the comprehensive, objective research required to prove this benefit.
- 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.
- 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 is likely to 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.
- Individual differences. Just because your friend swears by a product doesn't mean it will work for you. People have different skin types. No one product works the same for everyone.
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 signs of aging 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 on exposed skin 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 are broad spectrum, meaning they 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.
- Eat a healthy diet. There is some evidence that certain vitamins in your diet help protect your skin, particularly vitamins A, C, B3 and E. More study is needed on the role of nutrition.
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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- 10 tips: Selecting age-fighting topicals. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/age_fighting_selecting.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2010.
- Stern RS. Treatment of photoaging. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350:1526.
- Kim H, et al. Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: A randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology. 2010:162:497.
- Watson REB, et al. Repair of photoaged dermal matrix by topical application of a cosmetic "antiageing" product. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008:158:472.
- Cosmeceutical facts and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/general_cosmeceutical.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2010.
- Labeling for cosmetics containing alpha hydroxy acids. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ucm090816.htm. Accessed Aug. 5, 2010.
- Zussman J, et al. Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63(3):507.
- 10 tips: Getting the best results from age-fighting topicals. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/age_fighting_results.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2010.
- Aging hair/skin problems: Wrinkles. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/wrinkles.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2010.
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