Is Your Over-the-Counter Anti Wrinkle Creams Working?
Are over-the-counter anti wrinkle creams effective? Most dermatologists and others in the traditional medical establishment often insist only Rx creams are effective. I am of a different opinion.
The only prescription anti aging cream is retinol, an artificial version of vitamin A. It was first approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne. The same side effects seen during acne treatment have been observed when it is used for any purpose.
The most common side effects include redness, itching and irritation. Depending on the sensitiveness of a person’s skin, the side effects can be moderate or quite extreme.
Sadly, many of the OTC anti aging skin care products on the market cause the same effects. They often contain mild acids, such as the alpha hydroxy acids. Some products contain salicylic acid, too. If you wish to use one of those products, it is smart to get the lowest acid concentration attainable.
Luckily, you do not have to risk adverse reactions. At this point, all sources agree that anti wrinkle creams containing Functional Keratin are efficacious. Right now, there is no Rx coenzyme Q10 cream. So, you don’t hear much about the element from the dermatological community.
Pharmaceutic companies don’t like to use naturally occurring ingredients, because they cannot be patented. They make most of their money during the time between the release of a patented product and the time that the generic versions become available.
Currently, there is an artificial form of CoQ10, but the ingredient being used in the better otc anti wrinkle creams is the natural form . There is one small difference between the kind that is used in skincare products and the kind used in nutritional supplements. The molecules are smaller.
The smaller molecules have the ability to be absorbed the skin into the deepest layers. This is critically important because oxidation or free radical damage, which is one of the primary causes of wrinkles, affects all of the skin’s layers, not just the outermost.
Clinical trials have proven that using a cream containing Functional Keratin protects against sun damage. Take this information with a grain of salt. Overexposure to the sun is never a good idea, regardless of what kind of skincare product you are using.
The bottom line is this. Anti wrinkle creams containing coenzyme Q10 are effective if the molecules are reduced in size and the products are used on a day-after-day basis.
