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Anti-wrinkle creams: do they work?
 Wrinkles are a by-product of the
aging process.
With age, skin cells divide more slowly, and the inner layer, called the dermis,
begins to thin. The network of elastin (the protein which causes skin to
stretch) and collagen fibers (the major structural proteins in the skin), which
support the outer layer, loosen and unravel, causing depressions on the surface.
With aging, skin also loses its elasticity, is less able to retain moisture,
oil-secreting glands are less efficient and the skin is slower to heal. All of
these contribute to the development of wrinkles.
In large part, your everyday lifestyle choices contribute to the way you age,
and at what rate your body ages.
Diet, environmental factors,
exercise and the
topical skin care products and
skin care regimen you choose, all affect the way
you are going to appear now and ten, twenty, and thirty years down the road.
It's no surprise your lifestyle plays a pivotal role in how your body and
skin
age over the years, since we've always known diet and
exercise affect our energy
levels, appearance, moods, and
fitness level. BUT, the products you use daily
have a HUGE impact on the way your face will age. Due to the advancement of
science and technology, anti-wrinkle products are becoming increasingly popular.
If you do shop for an anti-wrinkle product in a health store, pharmacy or on the
Internet, you'll often find hundreds of different brands containing a confusing
array of ingredients. You may be tempted to experiment with different products
until you find one that works. But this approach may be expensive. More
importantly, not all products contain the quality and quantity of necessary
ingredients to positively promote long-term improvements on the appearance of
wrinkles and an overall healthy complexion. That's why you'll need to do a
little bit of research to find the best, most potent brand for your needs.
 With all the anti-aging products available in
the market though, it's so hard to pick one that can give you your desired
results. Each product promises to reduce or prevent wrinkles caused by aging,
but then again, you can never be too sure which one really works—or do they all
really work?
The answer is yes; however, effects of each
anti-wrinkle cream vary. Some anti wrinkle cream and other beauty products may
provide major changes to your skin while others only have a very little effect
on the skin. Also, there are products that work effectively and quickly while
others don’t. But in reality, no anti-wrinkle cream has really given a permanent
rejuvenating effect as aging is a natural process nothing can really totally
defy.
What an anti-wrinkle cream really does is it
hides those ugly wrinkles and
moisturizes your skin so you can achieve a more
beautiful face. It has ingredients like oils, collagen and silicon dioxide whose
molecules are smaller than those of the skin. They penetrate through the
wrinkles and deflect light; thereby, making the wrinkles invincible to the naked
eye.
An anti-wrinkle cream actually makes the aging
process more pleasing and agreeable to you. It helps you cope with aging more
gracefully by making you feel
beautiful. And that great feeling about
 oneself
actually does the work of making you look good. Remember that real beauty shines
from within, so whatever kind of anti-wrinkle cream or anti-aging product it is
that you use, always feel good about yourself and wear a smile no matter what
life brings—only then you can be beautiful in every sense of the word.
Common ingredients in anti-wrinkle creams
The effectiveness of anti-wrinkle creams depends in part on the active
ingredient or ingredients. Here are some common ingredients that may result in
slight to modest improvements in wrinkles.
Retinol. Retinol is a vitamin A compound and is the first antioxidant to
be widely used in nonprescription wrinkle creams. Antioxidants are substances
that neutralize free radicals — unstable oxygen molecules that break down skin
cells and cause wrinkles. Retinol is less potent than the vitamin A derivative
tretinoin, a prescription topical treatment approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for treating wrinkles. Avoid vitamin A derivatives if
you're pregnant or may become pregnant because they increase the risk of birth
defects.
Hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids
are all synthetic versions of acids derived from sugar-containing fruits. These
acids are exfoliants — substances that remove the upper layer of old, dead skin
and stimulate the growth of smooth, evenly pigmented new skin. Because hydroxy
acids increase your susceptibility to
sun damage, wear
sunscreen during use and
for at least one week afterward.
 Coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that helps regulate energy
production in cells. Some studies have shown reduction in fine wrinkles around
the eyes with no side effects. Other studies show that application before sun
exposure protects against sun damage.
Copper peptides. Copper is a trace element found in every cell. In
products applied to the skin, it's combined with small protein fragments called
peptides. Copper peptides enhance wound healing. They also stimulate production
of collagen and may enhance the action of
antioxidants.
Kinetin. A plant growth factor, kinetin may improve wrinkles and uneven
pigmentation with minimal irritation. It's unclear how it works, but it may help
reduce wrinkles by helping skin retain moisture and by stimulating the
production of collagen. It may also be a potent antioxidant.
Tea extracts.
Green, black and oolong tea contain compounds with
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea extracts are the ones
most commonly found in wrinkle creams.
 Alpha Lipioc Acid is an excellent
antioxidant that penetrates cell membranes to eliminate the free radicals that
the are broken down. It also assists other antioxidants that are in the body
such as vitamins C and
E.
In
addition to the use of a wrinkle treatment here are some other suggestions
to promote healthy, vibrant skin:
-
Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 every
day.
-
Maintain adequate hydration by drinking plenty of
water.
-
Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine.
-
Avoid smoking.
Also refer: Wrinkle creams and serums and
their actual effectiveness at
Med Health Reports. (Nicole Lewis, the respected health and beauty
writer from Med Health Reports magazine did a fantastic review on wrinkle
creams and serums and their actual effectiveness in a recent feature, the
results are quite surprising.)
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