It's great to have the wisdom of the ages, but that doesn't mean
you wantyour skin to reflect it. And with a relatively new branch of
topical skin-care products, perhaps it doesn't have to.
Called "dermaceuticals," these products supposedly spur the repair
of sun-damaged skin, effectively making skin look years younger.
"Anything that enhances repair and growth will slow down the aging
process," explains Mauro Romita, M.D., owner and medical director of the
Ajune day spa in New York City. Luckily, dermaceuticals don't always
require a prescription, and soon they'll be even easier to obtain. This
year, Revlon plans to launch a new line of products containing kinetin, a
naturally occurring plant enzyme that significantly reduced the
appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage in recent research at
the University of California at Irvine.
If you're in the market for dermaceuticals, here's what to look
for:
RETINOIDS. Derived from vitamin A, these are more commonly known by
their brand names--Retin-A and Renova--and require a prescription. First
used as acne drugs, they also work to repair sun damage and reduce fine
lines.
ANTIOXIDANTS. Topical creams containing antioxidants like vitamin C
or coenzyme Q 10 rebuild collagen and stop free radicals from interfering
with the body's own natural repair process.
EXFOLIANTS. These compounds-glycolic, alpha hydroxy and salicylic
acids-slough off aged, dead skin to make room for new, healthy
skin.
LIGHTENING AGENTS. Containing hydroquinione or kojic acid, these
agents block pigment cells from producing freckles, age spots and
melanoma. Hydroquinione requires a prescription.
ADVANCED SUNBLOCKS. These contain aggressive blockers that protect
against both UVA and UVB rays. According to Romita, they are "very
effective in repairing the damage to DNA done by ultraviolet
light."
So don't fret about frown lines. Instead, give your skin a
dermaceutical boost--and yourself a confident smile in the mirror.
Tags:
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