Best Wrinkle Fighters

There are dozens of anti wrinkle products on the market today. Some claim to minimize fine lines while others purportedly prevent new wrinkles from forming. How do you know which is best for you? Use the handy guide below to decide what wrinkle fighters are most likely to combat the signs of aging in your life.

AHA
Alpha hydroxy acids are the most well known and least expensive wrinkle fighters. Lotions containing AHAs basically help peel off the upper layers of your skin over time. While this may sound strange, with consistent use AHA's can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Some AHA's contain a combination of ingredients including glycolic acid. This helps your skin absorb AHA's so they work better. Examples of products containing AHA's include:

• Avon's Anew
• Eucerin Plus Alphahydroxy
• Neutrogena Wrinkle Cream

Kinetin
Kinetin is a natural produce dermatologists are now recommending to help combat aging. Much gentler than harsh chemical alternatives, products containing kinetin help reverse aging using mild ingredients. Products containing kinetin include Age Eraser with Kinetin, Hyper C Serum and Age Advantage Laboratories' High Potency Vitamin C Ester Serum.

Retin-A
Retin-A, otherwise known as Tretinoin, is a product derived from naturally occurring vitamin A. Most regard this as an exceptional wrinkle fighting product. The only downside is it is only available by prescription. It is also not recommended for pregnant or nursing women as too much vitamin A can result in birth defects. There are several over the counter products that contain ingredients similar, but not nearly as strong as tretinoin.

Chemical Peels
Most women think harsh and abrasive when chemical peels come to mind. While some chemical peels are very harsh, there are others that are mild and work very effectively for reducing the appearance of crow's feet and fine lines. In fact, many dermatologists recommend two to three light peels over several weeks to get results similar to that of a deeper peel. Deep peels are typically much more dangerous, and can come with serious side effects. Some have purportedly caused kidney and heart problems. For this reason it is best to stick with light peels or alternative wrinkle fighting treatments if you can.

Fillers
Filler work by plumping up your skin in areas where folds are wrinkles have formed. Collagen is traditionally the most popularly used wrinkle filler. When injected directly into a wrinkle collagen helps smooth away lines. Some people are allergic to collagen however, and the results are temporary. Recently a new time of filler has become available. The product, called restylane is considered a safe and very effective alternative to collagen. This product is made from hyaluronic acid. You can use it to fill moderate or even severe wrinkles, especially those surrounding the nose and mouth. Restylane works very well for minimizing nasolabial folds and fine lines around the eyes. The benefit of this product is it is very safe with almost no side effects and generally long lasting. Patients who have allergic reactions to collagen injections may find Restylane a much more useful product.

Botox
Botox is a purified form of a known toxin, Clostridium botulinum. It works by causing the muscles around the injection site to weaken and relax. Doctors can inject it in tiny amounts around the muscles in the eyes and forehead to help reduce crow's feet and forehead lines. There are some side effects associated with Botox use including bleeding and bruising. Very rarely Botox may migrate to another muscle nearby. This sometimes causes drooping around the eyelid or unevenness in the skin. These reactions however are usually temporary. Most people who have Botox done say the results are well worth it. Injections may last up to 6 months. Just don't get too much Botox. You still want to be able to express yourself with your face!

Thermage
Thermage is a new treatment that involves applying high intensity heat to the skin from a radio-frequency device. Thermage acts like a mini face lift, helping tighten the skin surrounding the cheeks, neck and forehead. Usually only one treatment is necessary. This tends to work well for people whose wrinkles are more the result of sagging or lose skin.

Once you do treat the wrinkles you have, you'll have to apply sunscreen religiously and moisturize your skin to reduce the effects of aging. Remember that drying products are most likely to produce wrinkling skin. Using a deep moisturizer at night and keeping your skin protected from the sun should be all the care you need to maintain youthful looking skin.