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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Many wrinkle creams and lotions sold in department stores, in drugstores and on the Internet promise to reduce wrinkles and prevent or reverse damage caused by the sun. But these products are not likely to make a noticeable difference in your skin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies these 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.

Because the FDA doesn't evaluate cosmetic products for effectiveness, there's no guarantee that any over-the-counter product will reduce your wrinkles.

Prevention Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Photoaging. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mkgr/mmg/sec15/ch122/ch122c.jsp. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  2. Puizina-Ivic N, et al. Modern approach to topical treatment of aging skin. Collegium Antropologicum. 2010;34:1145.
  3. Zerbos ZJ, et al. Update on botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Current Opinion in Opthalmology. 2010;21:387.
  4. Facial skin rejuvenation. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_facial.html. Accessed Nov. 5, 2010.
  5. Aging hair/skin problems: Wrinkles. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/wrinkles.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  6. Basavaraj KH, et. al. Diet in dermatology: Present perspectives. Indian Journal of Dermatology. 2010;55:205.
  7. Zussman J, et al. Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use? Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63:507.
  8. Tierney EP, et al. Recent advances in combination treatments for photoaging: Review of the literature. Dermatologic Surgery. 2010;36:829.
  9. Paes EC, et al. Perioral wrinkles: Histologic differences between men and women. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2009;29:467.
  10. Baumann L. Cosmetics and skin care in dermatology. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3007166&searchStr=xerosis. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  11. 10 tips: Getting the best results from age-fighting topicals. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/age_fighting_results.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  12. Cosmeceutical facts and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/general_cosmeceutical.html. Accessed Nov. 13, 2010.
  13. Technology report: Fractional photothermolysis. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/_NewsPage.aspx?id=1078&terms=fraxel#. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
  14. Technology report: Monopolar radiofrequency. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. http://www.asds.net/_NewsPage.aspx?id=1378&terms=radiofrequency#. Accessed Nov. 19, 2010.
DS00890 Jan. 27, 2011

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