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HealthTips:
New Options for Smoothing Wrinkles
Mirror, mirror on the wall.Although most women have no illusions about being the fairest of them all,
it’s normal enough to experience a little angst as wrinkles begin to make their mark with passing years.
Fortunately there are many new products for home use that can help erase wrinkles and other skin problems
as well as a new generation of high-tech options at your dermatologist’s office that don’t require cutting or
harsh lasers.
Although we tend to associate lines and wrinkles with aging, the damage caused by tanning and sun exposure
begins to show up as early as the 20s, when turnover of skin cells begins to slow down. By the 30s the collagen
and elastin, which help keep skin plumped up and smooth, have begun to degenerate. As a result, 30-
somethings find themselves beginning to agonize over fine lines, dark spots and enlarged pores.
Compare the skin on the underside of your arms or breasts with the skin on your hands and face. All of the skin
is the same age, yet the color and texture are remarkably different. Some skin changes are the result of aging,
but many of the wrinkles and lines come from sun damage, which is compounded for women who smoke. So
the first steps for women of any age are to use a sunscreen every day and to avoid smoking.
Collagen, a protein found in joints and ligaments throughout the body, is the framework that keeps our inner
layers of skin firm. Many skin care products and procedures available from dermatologists are designed to
stimulate collagen production and firm up supporting structures in skin layers. Others replenish vitamins or
other skin nutrients.
Home Remedies
Since the advent of alpha hydroxy acids a few years ago, skin creams and lotions, shown by controlled studies
to improve skin texture and quality, have flooded the market. Some of the active ingredients proven to affect
the biological functioning of skin are listed below.
Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is available in both prescription and over-the-counter products. It promotes
faster cell turnover and can markedly improve fine lines and acne. Because they increase sensitivity to sun
exposure, retinol-based products are usually applied in the evening and it’s essential to always use a sunscreen
the next morning.
Pentapeptides, found in amino acids in the skin and now incorporated into skin creams and lotions, were
shown in a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health to slow collagen breakdown and increase its
production.
Alpha and beta hydroxy acids are found in countless face and body washes, lotions and gels.
Alpha hydroxy acids have either glycolic or lactic acid as their active ingredient and come in strengths ranging
from 10 percent to 5 percent. Beta hydroxy acids use salicylic acid in strengths ranging from 2 percent to .5
percent. These acids work as exfoliants, loosening the bonds that stick dead cells to the surface of the skin.
MountainView Regional Medical Center Women’s Resource Center: New Options for Smoothing Wrinkles
Chemical peels that can be bought for at-home use work in essentially the same way as AHAs and BHAs, but
they’re more potent so give quicker, more dramatic results. For very rough, dull skin, an at-home peel can give
good results.
Coenzyme Q-10, found in a number of over-the-counter products, is a naturally occurring enzyme found in
the body’s cells. With aging, cells tend to lose Q-10 and to be more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles.
Using a cream with coenzyme Q-10 will reduce wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.
Copper peptides are showing up in a number of cosmetic products designed to decrease wrinkles and
increase skin firmness. Copper peptides speed the formation of collagen and elastin.
A Visit to Your Dermatologist
Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have an expanding array of options for sagging and wrinkled skin.
Botox and other fillers can be injected to plump up wrinkles and fill lines. A toxin that temporarily paralyzes
facial muscles, Botox works well on frown lines and crow’s feet, but can’t be used on smile lines and creases
around the mouth.
A number of dermal fillers are available that can be injected to plump up the skin from within. Materials used
include cow collagen, liquid silicone and plastic microbeads.
Fillers sold under the names CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are made from human cells grown in a lab and are
being used successfully. Treatments last from four to six months and cost about $600.
Hyaluronic acid, sold in a synthetic version under the trade name Restylane, has been well accepted for its
ability to keep skin looking full and supple. Treatments last six months to one year and cost from $550 to $600.
Carbon dioxide laser treatments that remove the top layer of skin and require a 7- to 10-day recovery are now
often replaced with newer lasers able to work beneath the skin surface to create smoother, tighter skin with
little pain and no unpleasant side effects.
By working at a deeper level, the Smoothbeam laser and others like it, are able to stimulate collagen
production with little pain and only a bit of redness for a few hours after the procedure.
The new lasers can reduce wrinkles by 25 to 75 percent after three to five sessions at a cost of $300 to $500 per
session for the area treated.
Radio waves are also being used to penetrate beneath the skin’s surface to contract and tighten skin.
ThermaCool technology can increase skin firmness by 25 to 50 percent for up to two years at a cost of between
$1000 and $2000.
Dermatologists also offer microdermabrasion and chemical peels at varying strengths to treat conditions
ranging from long-term sun damage, wrinkles and pre-cancerous cells. A light peel can be repeated every six
weeks or so but the effects of medium and deep peels, which leave skin red for up to three months, can last
for months or even years.
Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have a wealth of offerings but any woman considering a procedure
should recognize that complications can and do occur. Make it your job to be well-informed about the
procedure, any possible risks, what level of pain to expect and how you will look and feel in the days and
weeks to follow. For many procedures the skill of the physician may affect your results, so choose someone
with a high level of experience and expertise. It’s your face and in most cases the procedure is elective.
MountainView Regional Medical Center Women’s Resource Center: New Options for Smoothing Wrinkles
REFERENCES:
“Anti-Aging Tips for Wrinkles Issued from Cosmetic Surgery Group,” Medical Devices and Surgical Technology
Week, October 10, 2004.
Jennifer Barrett, “No Time for Wrinkles,” Newsweek, May 10, 2004.
“Better than Botox? Anti-Aging Breakthrough,” Natural Health, February 2004.
Angela Dyer, “Touting Topicals: Arm Yourself with Essential Information to Look Younger,” Cosmetic Surgery
Times, May 2003.
“FDA Approves Hyalaform Gel for the Correction of Facial Wrinkles,” Medical Letter on the CDCand FDA, May
30, 2004.
“FDA Approves Restylane for Facial Wrinkles,” Dermatology Nursing, June 2004.
“FDA Clears ThermaCool Device for Treatment of Facial Wrinkles and Rhytids,” Medical Devices and Surgical
Technology Week, July 25, 2004.
“GHK Copper Peptide Complex Plus Retinol Introduced for Wrinkles, Women’s Health Weekly, April 15, 2004.
Michael Greenberg, et al. “Dry Skin, Common Causes,” JAAPA, Journal of the American Academy of Physicians
Assistants, September 2004.
Cheryl Guttman, “Short Pulse CO-2 Laser Yields Predictable Improvement of Deep Wrinkles with Decreased
Risk of Side Effects,” Cosmetic Surgery Times, March 2003.
Jane Schwanke, “Aging Skin Sees the Light,” Cosmetic Surgery Times, May 2004.
Michelle Stephenson, “Lasers and Light Diminish the Effects of Aging,” Cosmetic Surgery Times, June 2003.
Smoke Gets in Your Skin
Smoking is as hard on the outside of your body as it is on your heart and lungs. Next to excessive sun
exposure, smoking is the worst thing you can do to your skin. It robs skin of oxygen and essential nutrients,
plus it unleashes harmful free radicals.
The mechanics of smoking also take a toll. The pursing of lips, sucking in of cheeks and other facial moves give
rise to fine lines around the mouth and eyes, and deep wrinkles in the cheeks.
[SOURCE: “Anti-Aging Tips for Wrinkles Issued from Cosmetic Surgery Group,” Medical Devices and Surgical Technology Week, October 10, 2004] Peel off the Years
Exfoliation is a natural process in which dead cells are regularly sloughed off from the epidermis to uncover
smoother, newer cells underneath. But with aging, cell turnover slows and dead cells build up on the skin
surface, making skin look dull and rough.
A host of products are now available, both over-the-counter and by prescription, to help speed exfoliation and
bring fresher looking skin to the surface more rapidly.
Mild exfoliation will brighten skin but won’t address wrinkles. Medium and deep professional peels penetrate
beyond the outer layer of skin and can improve the appearance of wrinkles and lines.
MountainView Regional Medical Center Women’s Resource Center: New Options for Smoothing Wrinkles
Cream Fights Cancer
A skin cream recently approved for use in Australia goes beyond beauty concerns to actually treat skin cancer.
Marketed in Australia under the trade name Aldara, the cream works by activating the body’s immune system
to fight superficial basal cell carcinoma.
The cream was originally used to treat genital warts.
[SOURCE: “Jan’s Treatment to Give Skin Cancer A Creaming,” Australasian Business Intelligence, September 3, 2004] Beauty on a Budget
Many of the highly touted anti-aging skin creams come at a hefty price, especially if you buy them from
cosmetic counters at upscale department stores.
But in many cases the same active ingredients can be found in less expensive versions in the aisles of your
local drug store.
Pharmacists, who are knowledgeable about prescription-strength skin care products, are a good source of
information on over-the-counter products and may be able to recommend a choice that will meet your needs.
Vitamins for Your Skin
Vitamins A, C, D and E all play an important role in maintaining healthy skin and are now found in numerous
skin creams and lotions.
Vitamin A is necessary for smooth, moist skin. Synthetic vitamin A compounds such as retinoids are used to
treat acne, wrinkles and brown spots caused by excess sun exposure.
Vitamin C can help improve the overall tone and texture of skin making it appear smoother and more
youthful.
Vitamin D is manufactured by the body in response to exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D works as an antioxidant,
keeping skin cells healthy and protecting them from carcinogens.
Vitamin E also works as an antioxidant and is believed to protect skin from damage by mopping up free
radicals.
[SOURCE: Angela Dyer, “Touting Topicals: Arm Yourself with Essential Information to Look Younger, Banish Blotches, Or Wipe Out Wrinkles,” Cosmetic Surgery Times, May 2003] Copper Peptides Pep Up Skin
Physicians have long known about the power of copper to heal chronic wounds and ulcers. Now copper
peptides are being used to treat wrinkles and fine lines as well as to help healing after laser skin resurfacing.
Studies show that copper peptides stimulate collagen formation and elastin production, the structural
supports for the second layer of skin. They also show promise in decreasing skin blotchiness and increasing
firmness and tone.
Copper peptides are relatively inexpensive and have the advantage of being gentle, making them a good
option for those with sensitive skin who react to some of the other more irritating topical products on the
market.
[SOURCE: “GHK Copper Peptides Complex Plus Retinol Introduced for Wrinkles,” Women’s Health Weekly, April 15, 2004] Fight Dry Winter Skin
Three of every four persons living in the northern half of the United States suffer from dry skin in the winter. A
mild case can lead to itching and flaky skin, but if skin loses too much moisture, scaling and cracking can occur
which can lead to irritation and possibly infection.
To treat dry skin try to increase indoor humidity, limit time in the shower or bath, use warm rather than hot
water to bathe and use both a skin softener as well as a moisturizer after bathing.
[SOURCE: Michael Greenberg et al, “Dry Skin: Common Causes,” JAAPA – Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants, September 2004]

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