Over-The-Counter Wrinkle Creams: Do They Work?

2005-08-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

You've seen the antiaging skin care claims, in newspapers, magazines, and even online: ominous photos of hypodermic needles posed along side innocuous, even innocent-looking jars of cream. The message: A new generation of topical cosmetic creams promises the same wrinkle-relaxing, age-defying results as some pricey and maybe even some potentially dangerous medical procedures, including Botox and collagen injections.

Pentapeptides and Anti-Wrinkle Technology
Much of the new antiaging treatment technology focuses on compounds called pentapeptides -- small groups of long chain amino acids that function as chemical messengers throughout the body. But the question begs whether or not they really work? Many medical experts involved in product testing say there is ample science behind the pentapeptide anti-wrinkle technology.

Initially, the research on pentapeptides was done in relation to wound healing. As part of the body's natural response to help skin heal, published studies showed peptides are instrumental in increasing cells in the skin to produce more collagen. But collagen isn't just for healing cuts and scrapes. It also plays an important role in how skin ages. Collagen supports the structure that gives our skin a firm, young appearance. When levels remain plentiful our skin looks young and fresh. When levels decline, we lose that support and wrinkles begin to form. While collagen injections can temporarily put back some of what we lose, some researchers believe that topically applying the peptides might have a similar effect -- without the needle.

Argireline. Better Than Botox?
Even more interesting is the level of attention that has been recently focused the combination of two types of pentapeptide technology -- palmitoyl pentapeptide and acetyl hexapeptide, also known as "argireline" -- for a compound that may mimic both a collagen shot and a Botox injection simultaneously. Botox works by destroying a protein involved in the release of a neurotransmitter that would otherwise keep a muscle tense, allowing a wrinkle to form. By stopping the tensing motion and relaxing the muscle, the wrinkle seems to disappear. The argireline complex attempts to mimic that same Botox action by blocking the action of the protein. It doesn't destroy the protein, like Botox does instead it simply keeps it from connecting to the cell and turning on the muscle contraction. The palimtoyl peptide, meanwhile, works on producing more collagen. The end result may be similar to that of a medical procedure, just not much less dramatic.

What Wrinkle Creams Are Truly Effective?
If you shop for such products in a department store or pharmacy or on the Internet, you'll find hundreds of different brands containing a confusing array of ingredients. You may be tempted to experiment with different brands until you find one that works. But this approach may be expensive. It also may cause skin irritation and deprive you of the benefits of an effective skin-care regimen. The health magazine ConsumerHealthDigest.com had a great review on wrinkle creams and their actual effectiveness in a recent skin care feature, the results are quite surprising . Click on this link to read their review:
http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/top25wrinkle_article.htm

If you're looking for a complete face-lift in a bottle, you probably won't find it in any anti-aging skin cream. Still, the use of such products may result in some really dramatic improvements in one's wrinkles. Combining the right product with a healthy lifestyle may be the most effective way of achieving a younger-looking face.

Breakthrough Development In Anti-Wrinkle Technology

Over-The-Counter Wrinkle Creams: Do They Work?