As a person ages, the skin begins to change, explains the National Institutes of Health. With each passing year, the layers of your skin lose fat, collagen and elastin, affecting its plumpness and elasticity. This is often accompanied by the development of age spots, which are clusters of melanin from continuous sun exposure. Couple both of these factors with the dry skin that often results from a reduced production of sebum in the sebaceous glands, and you can start to lose that youthful appearance. Luckily, there are many skin-care ingredients that help renovate aging skin.
Topical Retinoids
One of the more popular ingredients for aging skin is topical retinoids, such as tretinoin and tazarotene. The Mayo Clinic claims that retinoids reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while fading age spots on mature skin. When applied each day, this active ingredient stimulates the production of collagen, which helps to plump the skin. It also breaks apart the clusters of melanin, helping to fade age spots. People typically see an improvement in the appearance of their skin after several months of use.
Retinol
Not as effective as topical retinoids, retinol can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol is also a derivative of vitamin A, just lower in concentration than retinoids. Due to this derivation, this ingredient can stimulate the production of collagen as well as fight off free radicals that contribute to aging. This improves the plumpness of the skin and can slow the process of aging, providing a more youthful appearance.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid
The National Institutes of Health suggest topical application of alpha hydroxy acid to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Along with beta hydroxy and poly hydroxy, this type of acid removes dead skin while encouraging the production of new epidermal cells. This cellular turnover reduces discoloration of the skin and may lessen the signs of fine lines and wrinkles for some people.
Hydroquinone
While hydroquinone does nothing to improve the appearance of wrinkles, this ingredient in topical age creams does fade age spots on the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's considered a skin-lightening agent that breaks up clustered melanin found deep within the epidermis. Daily use can improve the appearance in several months.
Copper Peptides
The Mayo Clinic also lists copper peptides as an ingredient to improve aging skin, stating that this mineral/protein compound encourages the production of collagen under the surface of the skin. Over time, lines and wrinkles begin to even with the rest of the skin.
Kinetin
Kinetin is described as a plant growth factor that stimulates the production of collagen while helping the skin retain moisture. By plumping the skin and combating dryness, kinetin leaves the skin looking more youthful. Kinetin may also help to even areas of skin discoloration, like age spots.
Petrolatum
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends products containing petrolatum. Petrolatum doesn't improve the appearance of wrinkles or age spots, but it's considered an effective moisturizer by the academy. Improving the dryness of the skin makes it appear much more youthful.
Botulinum Toxin Type A
More commonly known as Botox, botulinum toxin type A is an injectable ingredient that helps to improve the appearance of aged skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Institutes of Health. When injected directly under the lines and wrinkles, it impedes the contraction of the muscles, causing them to relax. This helps to even the lines and wrinkles with the rest of the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
Dermal fillers, like hyaluronic acid, are ingredients also found in injections. But instead of relaxing the muscles, they actually fill in the wrinkles, flattening them with the rest of the skin. Basically, they add volume to areas that have lost collagen, elastin or fat.
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