Anti Aging Skin Treatments - Some Information

To keep your skin looking young and free from lines and wrinkles it is best to find the skin care treatment that is right for your skin and use it routinely. There are many, many anti-wrinkle and anti aging skin treatments on the market and finding an effective one that suits your skin may take some time (and money!)

The first thing to so is to find out what type of skin you have and what its current condition is. Is your skin dry or oily? It may be a combination. Now think about the health of your skin and its age. A young skin or a skin that has few lines and wrinkles will better respond to light treatments or lotions, an older, more heavily wrinkled skin will need a more intense anti aging skin treatment.

There are also a range of different ingredients added to anti aging skin treatments that may or may not be effective. There are some that have been proven clinically to have an effect on lines and wrinkles but unfortunately there are also some that have no proven effect. How can you tell the difference and be sure that you are purchasing an effective anti aging skin treatment? We've put together some information on anti aging ingredients below to help you.

What Doesn't work?

Collagen

Collagen is a component of the deeper layers of the skin where it supports it and prevents lines and wrinkling. If the collagen is damaged, through sun or other environmental factors the skin is not supported firmly and starts to sag. Collagen is a large molecule and cannot enter the skins top layers if placed on the surface. Collagen added to face creams therefore will have no effect on wrinkles and lines.

Expensive creams and lotions

For anti aging skin treatments it is not necessarily true that the more expensive the more effective. Over the counter creams and lotions all contain about the same amount of active ingredient so paying more is not going to make a difference to the effect you will see.

What Does Work?

Anti aging skin treatments containing retinol (over the counter) or tretinoin (available on prescription) have been clinically proven to have an effect on fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol is less effective than tretinoin but over time can decrease lines and wrinkles significantly.

Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to have an effect on the fine lines around the eyes. It also protects the skin from the damaging effects of the sun.

Copper peptides stimulate the production of collagen and help to heal wounds and are effective anti oxidants.

A Caution

Anti aging skin treatments containing retinol or tretinoin increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun so either use them at night before bed or, if you do use them in the day, always use a high factor sunscreen as well. You may experience some redness or irritation when you first use these treatments. this is normal and should go in a day or two. If it continues for longer than this discontinue using the product.

How long does it take to see an effect?

With any anti aging skin treatment don't expect overnight miracles. You should see some effects after using the treatment daily for about eight weeks. After a few months you should see significant improvements in the number and depth of lines and wrinkles.