Skin Care Myths: Antioxidants Treat Wrinkles
Antioxidants will reverse your wrinkles. This is a common misconception.
Antioxidants can help prevent wrinkles by soaking up harmful free radicals that damage your collagen.
Wrinkles result when collagen is damaged by ultraviolet radiation. Antioxidants, regardless of how potent they are, cannot alter existing collagen that is damaged. Antioxidants therefore do not treat existing wrinkles.
In terms of topical creams, only products that can cause growth of new collagen such as tretinoin (like Renova®, Retin-A®, and Tazorac®) can treat existing wrinkles.
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I have recently seen quite a few ads for tablets that contain(?) collagen or that boosts collagen when one takes it. Is there any merit in such products?
Hanner-
The only topical products that can “boost” collagen are topical retinoids such as Retin-A or Renova. Applying collagen to your skin would have no effect (except maybe as a nice moisturizer). Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer my question, dr Benabio. I love your blog – I have subscribed through Bloglines – and I have alerted a few friends who are now regular readers as well!
I’ve been using .5 retin-a under my eyes for about 3 months. I would like to know if I can really expect my lines to be much improved, and how long will it take.
Thanks Doc!
Hanner-
Thank you so much. Don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help you.
Marie-
By three months you should notice results; however, you should still continue to see improvement over time.
Thanks Doc! I appreciate you taking the time to answer. Of course using Retin-A, I’m expecting miracles! I do know this is not realistic, but I can wish………………
It is so ridiculous that people keep on believing that anti-oxidants reverse wrinkles, when in fact they don’t. People should concentrate more on preventing wrinkles, which can be as easy as applying sunscreen and keeping your skin moisturized. Most things available in stores only reduce the apperance of wrinkles, once you stop using them, they return.
Marie-
You will likely be surprised at how effective Retin-A is.
Eye Wrinkle Cream Guru-
Good points. I agree with you. Sunscreen and sunglasses are key.
Are there any live demos?
Well said, I’ve bookmarked your site. You’ve earned a new reader!