The Best Wrinkle Cream

All I wanted was to check the wind direction before I went for my Saturday run. Just to the right of this information on the weather channel web site was this large pop-up proclaiming the top 3 anti-wrinkle creams of 2009. What self respecting female, being a dermatologist or not, wouldn’t want to know more? Thus was the start of the next 45 minutes of wandering from web site to web site. You think Alice in Wonderland was baffled!

I recently read a market research report from the NPD Group in Port Washington, NY, that anti-aging is a major reason for 75% of women buying skin care products. Guess what? Women use skin care products to look the best they can for their age. After purchasing these products, they often end up on the shelf with less than a once daily use, if that. Do I understand this? Yes, both intellectually and emotionally. We want more than any cream, lotion or serum can give us for our effort and expense. We are only beginning to understand the genes affecting our aging. We could have lead more health focused, sun protected lives. Is there hope? Yes!

I just finished reading both parts of a review article in the January and February 2010 Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 23, #1 and #2 entitled “Use of Topical Retinoids for the Treatment of Non Malignant Photo Damage in Clinical Practice”. I emphasize again that Retinoids (aka: Tretinoin, Retin A, Renova, Tazorac) can deliver results if used regularly, for a long enough time and combined with a good sunscreen and careful sun exposure. So far this is the easiest thing you can do. You can’t fix your genes (yet).

You will need detailed instructions for successful use by a physician because Tretinoin and most Retinoids are prescription products. I love the conclusion arrived at in the review article, “Of all the topical therapies available to date, the retinoids can be prescribed with the most confidence, as the clinical evidence underpinning their use far outweighs that available for other compounds such as antioxidants and alpha hydroxyl acids”.

So Alice, climb out of the hole, clean off your shelves, mute all non evidenced based claims, simplify your life and come visit me at CDLC.

Dr. Ann