Worry-free solutions for those “worry lines”
Q: I read your response to the reader last week who wanted to know about natural anti- wrinkle injections. I’d like to smooth out some of my own “worry lines” but would prefer not to use injections of any sort. Are there any other options?
Dr. Wright: There is a natural topical treatment that may be able to help you get rid of wrinkles at least partially, if not entirely.
Within the last few years, it has been reported that a regular application of a 10 percent vitamin C topical solution (rubbed in, not swallowed) can actually reverse fine skin wrinkles.
Potentially, vitamin C can benefit skin in two important ways. First, vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen. Adding vitamin C to a culture of skin cells (fibroblasts) dramatically increases the synthesis of collagen. Second, vitamin C is an antioxidant and can help reduce skin damage caused by free radicals.
So when vitamin C is properly delivered to skin cells, there is a good chance to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture.
Unfortunately, most of the products on the market that say they contain vitamin C don’t really work. This can happen for a few reasons, but the most common one is that these products don’t usually contain the proper concentration of vitamin C. But you should be able to buy a 10 percent vitamin C solution/topical lotion through compounding pharmacists without a prescription (since it’s just diluted vitamin C). Except in very rare cases of hypersensitivity, there are no side effects.
Topical vitamin C oxidizes (turns brown) more easily at room temperature and loses some of its effectiveness. It lasts longer if it’s kept refrigerated. Your best bet is to buy small quantities of the solution so that you can use it up before any significant oxidation takes place.
There are many other effective natural means for fighting wrinkles, too — Retin-A and alpha-hydroxy acids are just a couple of additional options. For more information on natural wrinkle fighters, check your local library or bookstore for a copy of Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s book The Wrinkle Cure: Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin.
