No one likes wrinkles.  They are caused when collagen breaks down deep in your dermis, far below the skin’s top layer. For a more detailed explanation of causes, click on About.com.  The following is adapted from one of their articles.

Options for wrinkle reduction

Here are options currently on the market created to minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Better yet, most of these can be bought over-the-counter:

1. Alpha-hydroxy acids or microdermabrasion.
If you’re in your mid-30s & worried about wrinkles you might try exfoliating once a week with a alpha-hydroxy acid (AHAs) or a microdermabrasion kit. Don’t use both & be careful not to over-exfoliate. Chemical exfoliators (the AHAs) work great on oily or combination skin, while the physical scrubs (microdermabrasion) are great for very sensitive skin (make sure it’s in a creamy base).

AHA’s are glycolic or lactic acid formulated to increase collagen in sun-damaged skin. They are also known to reduce pore size, redness, blotchiness & fine lines. I love MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel ($68 for 30 applications at Sephora or buy online at About.com).

Microdermabrasives smooth fine lines & get rid of dead skin. I’ve tried several kits & like Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion In A Jar. I also like Lancome’s RESURFACE-C MICRODERMABRASION Resurface-C Microdermabrasion Kit. A less expensive, but still excellent option, is L’Oreal ReFinish Microdermabrasion Kit.

2. Antioxidants.
Free radicals — the unstable oxygen molecules produced by pollution, stress & sun — are a skincare nightmare. They attack healthy skin cells & cause collagen breakdown, all of which lead to wrinkles. Antioxidants like green tea, vitamins C & E, & coenzyme Q10 work together to neutralize free radicals. A cocktail of these antioxidants are like a multi-vitamin for skin, according to dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.

The most popular antioxidant on the market right now is prescription Prevage, a cream that is made with idebenone, a synthetic antioxidant & ‘star chemical’ dermatologists swear by. Another excellent (over-the-counter) option is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum, which clinical studies show reduced sunburned cells by a whopping 96 percent. Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment also gets high marks from dermatologists.

How to use it? Use antioxidants both orally & topically. IN Elle Magazine, dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, swears by Heliocare vitamins. Topically, antioxidants are great for bolstering UV protection. Apply an antioxidant serum containing vitamins C or E, Co-Q, alpha-lipoic acid, grean or white tea, pomegranate or idebenone under your sunscreen (see products below). The antioxidants will fight those free radicals the sun generates.

3. Sunscreen.
Sun damage is said to be the #1 cause of wrinkles. Wonder what your skin would look like if it was never exposed to the sun? Look at your bare bottom. It’s wrinkle free, isn’t it.  Perhaps your face and hands would look as well if kept under cover all the time as well.

When it comes to wrinkles, a good rule of thumb is if it’s daylight outside, you need sunscreen, no matter how cloudy. About.com came up with their list of the best sunscreens on the market.

4. Vitamin A (retinoid) creams.
To prevent wrinkles or keep them from worsening, look for products containing vitamin A like prescription Retin-A, Differin or Renova.

Used nightly (or every other night), vitamin A creams stimulate collagen renewal & prevent skin cells from breaking down. Women in their 20s & early 30s can use these to keep fine lines from turning into deeper furrows.  Make sure you never go out without sunscreen when you’re on these Vitamin A products because  your skin is extra susceptible to sun damage.

Resource Center:

• Skin care basics from About.com.
• 2009s Top Wrinkle Creams  AgingGenesis.com rates the Top Wrinkle Creams for 2009. See the Results!  AgingGenesis.com/Anti-Aging-Creams
• 2009′s Top 10 Face Creams  Which Anti Wrinkle Face Cream Works This Year’s Top 10 Face Creams Listwww.ConsumerWrinkleReviews.com
• Best Wrinkle Eraser
• Face Beauty Tips
• Face Exercises
• Anti Wrinkle Skin Products
• Anti Aging Face Cream

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