Is it Time to Change to a Natural Anti Wrinkle Cream?

Are otc anti wrinkle creams efficacious?  Most dermatologists and others in the traditional medical establishment often insist only Rx creams are effective.   I am of a different opinion.  

The only Rx anti aging cream is retinol, a synthetic version of vitamin A.  It was first approved by the FDA for the reduction of acne.  Retinol has unwanted side effects whether it is used for acne or for aging skin.

The side effects caused by retinol include peeling , itching and irritation.  Depending on the type of a person’s skin, the side effects can be moderate or quite extreme.  

Sadly, the majority of the OTC anti aging skin care products on the market cause the same problems.  The worst side effects are caused by the inclusion of mild acids like alpha hydroxy.   Some products contain salicylic acid, too.  If you decide to use one of those products, it is smart to get the lowest acid concentration available.

Fortunately, you don’t have to risk serious side effects.   At this point, all sources agree that anti wrinkle creams containing coenzyme Q10 are effective.  Right now, there is no prescription coenzyme Q10 cream.  So, you don’t hear much about the ingredient from dermatologists.

Pharmaceutic companies don’t like to use naturally occurring ingredients, because they can’t patent them.  They make most of their money during the time between the release of a patented product and the time that the generic versions become available.

Currently, there is a synthetic version of CoQ10, but the ingredient being used in the better otc anti wrinkle creams is the natural form .  There is one small difference between the kind that is used in skincare products and the kind used in nutritional supplements.  The particles are smaller.

The smaller molecules have the ability to be absorbed the skin into the deepest layers.   This is critically important because oxidation or free radical damage, which is one of the primary causes of wrinkles, affects every layer of skin not just the surface.  

Some studies have shown that using a cream containing Functional Keratin protects against sun damage.  Take this information with a grain of salt.  Overexposure to the sun is never a good idea, regardless of how good your skin care products are.

The bottom line is this.  Anti wrinkle creams containing coenzyme Q10 are effective if the molecules are reduced in size and the products are used on a day-to-day basis.