Comments on: Skin Care Myths: Antioxidants Treat Wrinkles

By: Camden Smith

Camden Smith — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:29:16 +0000

Well I’m depressed it sounds like these fine lines on my forehead are stuck there and I’m only 35. So I guess there’s no point in any of this anti-aging stuff unless I want to use Retin-A which is very irritating and irritates my skin. Looks like it’s a face lift instead lol.

By: Penny P

Penny P — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:00:21 +0000

I have been using the Made from Earth Olive Night Creme for the last 4-5 years as my night cream. I am 42 years old and have virtually no wrinkles. I always moisten my face first with a spritz of water then emulsify the Olive Night Creme in the palm of my hand. It spreads easier all over face and neck. I also like to put it in my hair (small amount) after washing while still wet, then it combs out easily and makes my curls softer and shinier. It works great on dry hair (tiny amount rubbed in palms of hands) as defrizzer and shine booster. I also enjoy it as a hand/cuticle cream and lip balm. you can also use it as a female moisturizer or lubricant.

I love that it has no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Remember, honey is naturally antibacterial. I am sold for life! It is expensive at whole foods, but I sometimes see a deal on their website. I love this stuff and the jar does last quite a long time.

By: Ayo

Ayo — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:29:49 +0000

@Dr. Benabio True, vitamin c has nothing near the amount of research that tretinoin has. But its collagen-stimulating abilities have been established time and again both in vivo and in vitro to the point where it would be very improbable that it actually doesn't grow collagen. FDA clinical trials would be ideal, but I don't think that they are necessary for practical purposes. All that's needed is a decent amount of evidence that a product is effective and safe. Perhaps the fact that vitamin c isn't as well established as tretinoin should make it plan B if someone doesn't react well to tretinoin. Skinceauticals and Cellex-c are well regarded companies that make vitamin c serums. They were both developed by scientists who were pioneers in topical vitamin c research and they both have in-house studies backing up their stuff.

By: Dr. Benabio

Dr. Benabio — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:44:30 +0000

@ayo L-asorbic acid is oxidized very quickly upon exposure to air. In fact, if a vitamin C cream doesn’t turn brown right on the tube, then it is not active vitamin C.

Combining vitamin C with vitamin E and ferulic acid is an excellent way to help stabilize these antioxidants and make them much more effective. I think these will be common ingredient in next generation sunscreens.

There are lots of nice reviews (like the ones you list); however, there is a derth of good clinical studies showing that topical vitamin C actually improves wrinkles in practice (Perhaps the Hubert, et al Exp Dermatol 2003, but are there any others?)

Most people wrongly believe that their topical antioxidant cream is improving their wrinkles — I don’t know of any product available on the market for which that has proven true (the ubiquitous impressive before and after pictures not withstanding).

Do you know of a vitamin C product that people can buy that has been shown to improve wrinkles? Thanks for taking the time to comment and provide links.

By: Ayo

Ayo — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:50:50 +0000

L-ascorbic acid starts to oxidize upon exposure to air and water, but it takes weeks for it to be oxidized to the point where it is no longer useful. And if the vitamin C is stabilized by vitamin E and ferulic acid it can last even longer. In vivo studies in humans have shown that vitamin c reduces wrinkles. This is all in that review article "Interaction of vitamins C and E" linked above.@Dr. Benabio

By: Dr. Benabio

Dr. Benabio — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:50:17 +0000

@Ayo Studies show that vitamin C (which is an antioxidant) can induce collagen synthesis (which would treat existing wrinkles). Unfortunately only the L-isomer of vitamin C is active and it is it nearly instantly oxidized to its inactive form when applied to the skin. (Quality vitamin C products quickly turn brown when exposed to air). Getting active vitamin C to penetrate the skin to have any observable effect has proved difficult.

By: Ayo

Ayo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:08:01 +0000

Vitamin C, an antioxidant, has been shown to cause growth of new collagen.

“Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions.”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16029672

“Interaction of vitamins C and E as better cosmeceuticals.”

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18045356

By: Stacy

Stacy — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:52:13 +0000

Is a moisturizer supposed to used before the Tazorac cream , or after the Tazorac has been of for awhile? Thanks!

By: Hydroxatone

Hydroxatone — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:04:56 +0000

Well said, I’ve bookmarked your site. You’ve earned a new reader!

By: Best Cream

Best Cream — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:13:21 +0000

Are there any live demos?