Anti-Wrinkle Creams May Or May Not Work

Yes this is a good question – ‘Do anti-wrinkle creams work?’ but the answer thereto is not straightforward. At times, yes they work wonders, and at other times no they don’t. Some, in fact lie between these two extremes- they work well as long as you use them but the moment you decide to stop their usage the problem reoccurs. What’s the big idea? It all actually depends on what type of cream you choose to treat your wrinkles with.

It follows even to a layman that if an anti-wrinkle cream contains zinc, antioxidants, AHAs, vitamins and all the natural herbs, there are all chances that it will work. If on the contrary the cream does not consist any of the above said component, there is no worth for your money, undisputedly!

Some people are so negligent about their skin that they pay the least attention to pick the right cream. They would go by what the storekeeper suggests or what friends say. Now, first and foremost all skin types are not the same that they can be treated in one way. If you say your friend has benefitted from a particular anti-wrinkle cream, good for him! There is no surety that you will benefit from it in the same way! Anti-aging creams, anti-wrinkle creams, anti-pimple creams- not all are good, not all are bad! Never go by what others tell you do. Carry out a research yourself.

Another thing you may need to consider is that almost all anti-wrinkle creams come for different age groups. There are anti-wrinkle creams for those in their early thirties even! So, you need to look at this aspect too while making a purchase.

The working of such creams differs from cream to cream. Some work by filling up the cracks and lines, others promise to treat the very root cause of wrinkles from within and yet others expedite sebum production.

Treatments for Lines and Wrinkles

Aging Skin and Wrinkles

As we age, the skin droops and develops wrinkles, lines and furrows. Depending on your skin type, you may find your skin to be pre-disposed to wrinkling. But thanks to diligent research and new advances, there are a number of solutions to combat facial lines.

Causes of facial lines

In addition to aging, facial lines can form because of the following:

* Sun damage (Fine lines and wrinkles arise because of irregular thickening of the dermis and because of a decrease in the amount of water held by the epidermis. caused mainly by sun damage.) (Read more at Sun Damage)
* Smoking
* Muscle movement / Dynamic lines (People tend to smile or frown more on one side than the other, or consistently sleep on the right or the left cheek. Crow’s feet around the eyes are due to smiling and activity of the eyelid muscles. Worry lines on the forehead are due to contraction of the muscle when raising the eyebrows)
* Gravity is responsible for folds in the skin

What treatment is available?

See your dermatologist for information about what might work well for you, which could include (Also see treatments for sundamaged skin):

* Topical agents which produce collagen in the skin, Vitamin A acids (Tazarotene, Tretinoin, Adapelene) and Vitamin C or alpha

Hydroxy acids
* Microdermabrasion has a very modest benefit for very fine lines
* Injectionable fillers such as Restylane (Hyaluronic acid)
* Botox for dynamic lines (Check-out www.BotoxFacts.ca)
* Lasers. Traditionally the CO2 and Erbium lasers (ablative) were used to essentially peel off a layer of skin and then allow a new skin to grow in. Results were impressive but the healing time of many weeks and sometimes months of redness has reduced the use of this approach. Patients with darker skin would often end up with darker skin and those with very fair skin sometimes white skin

* Plastic surgery is usually used to improve skin folds rather than fine lines and wrinkles
* The newer non-ablative laser treatments do not have the down time of the older methods nor do they have the degree of improvement. Repeat treatments with lasers that essentially produce a heating of the dermis, which in turn encourages collagen production, Lasers such as the Nd: Yag, V Beam and Smooth Beam may be used.
* The Fraxel laser is a modification of an Erbium laser that just treats multiple small pinpoint areas of skin allowing a quick recovery after a treatment. We will be hearing more of this in the future
* Cosmetic facial surgery

Skincare in Sun

Prevent it before it happens

You can take steps to protect your skin. You’ve heard it before, and it’s worth repeating:

* Avoid excessive time in the sun, and always use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher
* Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke or other pollutants. Smoking increases facial lines and wrinkles and delays skin healing.
* Exercise. It’s good for the skin as well as for your general health.
* Aging skin feels and looks better when moisturizers are applied regularly. These improve the water-holding capacity of the skin. Choose one that feels nice to apply, doesn’t sting or burn or provoke acne
* Use tepid or warm water and a non-soap cleanser to wash your face twice daily
* Drink plenty of water to rehydrate internally. Because moisture content is related to water, not oil or grease, oily-skinned women need to rehydrate as conscientiously as their dry-skinned counterparts
* Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables
* Generally what is healthy for your heart and brain is good for your skin

See your doctor or dermatologist to determine which solutions best suits your experience with facial lines.