Wrinkle creams widely used, but don’t do much good

When I was reading blogs recently, I saw a boomer marketing blog that gushingly congratulated the graphic artist who created one of those Internet wrinkle cream ads where a line sweeps over the wrinkled-woman’s face and she turns into a 20 year old.
 
The big topic of discussion was that the graphic designer didn’t remove the wrinkles from an old woman’s photo. She added the wrinkles to a young woman’s photo.
 
Those ads and other wrinkle cream ads are mostly hype. In fact, I found the Internet transformation ads offensive to aging women.
 
Although more than $1 billion is spend on wrinkle creams, the creams don’t do much good.
 
A test reported in the January 2007 issue of Consumer Reports found that some wrinkle creams worked better than others. But, on average, wrinkle creams made little difference in the appearance of the skin.
 
Any improvements that occurred were variable and slight. The women found it difficult to judge the performance of the wrinkle creams they tested. And their opinions bore no relation to how well the products performed based on objective measures.
 
The test also found that there isn’t any correlation between price and results.
 
Some dermatologists are recommending a back-to-basics approach, according to a New York Times article. The three-step approach includes: soap; sunscreen every day; and, if necessary, a product for specific skin needs, such as a cream for pimples or pigmented spots, or a vitamin-enriched moisturizer for aging skin.
 
You may want to consider protecting your face from the sun by wearing a hat and by avoiding being out in sun-intensive times of the day. Try facial exercises, which often work well.
 
Also stop smoking. It causes the skin to sag and wrinkle.
 
See “Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin” from the Mayo clinic Web site for tips on taking care of your skin and what wrinkle creams can and can’t do for you.
 
Why doesn’t the U.S. Food and Drug Administration do a better job of regulating wrinkle creams?
 
The FDA calls wrinkle creams cosmetics, and the agency defines cosmetics as having no medical value. The FDA doesn’t scrutinize cosmetics like it does drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic article. Cosmetics don't undergo rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before they go on the market.
 
The FDA does take action if cosmetic advertising makes medical claims or when cosmetics contain ingredients that may pose a potential health hazard to consumers.
 
So, it’s “buyer beware” when you buy any over-the-counter product to reduce your wrinkles.
 
Here are more references to help you make decisions about wrinkle creams:
 
“Hope in a Jar: Do Skin Creams Work” – WedMD
 
“Study: Most Wrinkle Creams Don’t Work” – WebMD

“Cosmetics” – Food and Drug Administration

“Deep Skin: Cosmetic Safe Database” – Environmental Working Group
 
“Anti-Wrinkle Compound Found to Cause Pathological Reaction in Skin Cells” – Senior Journal
 
“Skin Care and Aging” – MedicineNet.com
 
“Wrinkle Cream Not Working? Give Me Two More Jars” – The New York Times

My next two posts on Unlocking The Power of Your Money will discuss How Bad is Botox for You? and Why You Should Think Twice Before Having Plastic Surgery.