Wrinkle creams do contain ingredients that offer slight to modest improvement in fine lines, but there are some proven treatments that actually do help reduce wrinkles. These treatments are a little more aggressive than a cream. They may require multiple treatments with some social downtime.

So what treatments really work?
The most effective treatments fall into the following categories:

Skin Resurfacing:

• Chemical Peels work by using a specially formulated acid to burn off the outer layer of skin, revealing a new fresh layer of skin underneath.


• Superficial Peels generally use glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acid and help with removing dead skin cells and improving skin texture.


• Medium Peels usually use salicylic or trichloroacetic acid. They will not correct deep lines and wrinkles, but will improve the texture of the skin, including fine lines.


• Deep Peels usually contain phenol and are the strongest peels. They remove damaged skin and can treat course wrinkles. Expect a longer downtime.

Microdermabrasion:

• This is a skin polishing technique that uses a jet of micro crystals which are gently vacuumed across the skin.
• Dead and damaged cells are removed and this type of exfoliation quickens the turnover of skin cells and promotes new collagen growth.

Laser Treatments:

• This technology has advanced greatly in recent years. With Laser Resurfacing, the epidermis is treated with special wavelengths of light. This removes sun damage and brown spots on the surface of the skin. The laser simultaneously sends heat to the deeper layers of skin to stimulate collagen. This new collagen reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Non-ablative Laser Resurfacing:

• This works a little differently. This treatment uses the light energy of the laser to stimulate collagen synthesis under the skin without peeling or damaging the epidermis. There is less downtime, but noticeable improvements may take more time.

Injectable Treatments:

• These have become very popular in recent years, especially in Hollywood. The two most well-known brands are BOTOX Cosmetic and Dysport. Both are FDA-approved to treat facial wrinkles in the forehead, between the eyes, and the crows feet area. They work by weakening the muscles of facial expression. Small injections are made into the muscles. Once the resting tone of the treated muscle is weakened, the pull of the muscle relaxes and the overlying skin flattens – resulting in less lines of expression.

Dermal Fillers:

• In this treatment a filler material is used to add volume beneath the surface of the skin. This lifts the skin and smoothes out the wrinkles and folds. Common treatment areas are the nasolabial folds and around the lip lines. There are a variety of fillers on the market, including Restylane, Perlane, JuveDerm, Radiesse, Prevelle, Evolence, and Sculptra to name a few. They are made of different materials and have slightly different properties.
• Ultimately, you should discuss your skin care concerns with your physician to determine the most effective treatment that can be customized just for you.

Next week, Dr. Downs will be discussing sagging, loose skin which is often confused with wrinkles.

If you have any questions that you’d like to ask Dr. Downs, or if you have ideas for future “Health & Beauty BreakDowns” topics, just email us at 16morningnews@wndu.com.