Best Treatment for Facial Wrinkles

There is no shortage of treatments for facial wrinkles and fine lines, but there is some confusion on what works and what is useless. We need some clarity.

Historically, research has focused on the causes of aging skin and now has a better idea on how to tame the process without surgery or Botox injections. With tons of data on the subject, the treatment pool of preferred procedures for diminishing facial wrinkles has been severely reduced. With convenience, affordability, and effectiveness being the determinant components, these three treatments are optimal for aesthetic skin care.

Why They Work

All three replenish what your skin loses over time. Facial wrinkles and fine lines develop when collagen protein production breaks down. Sun exposure and age are the triggers, but the cycle is reversible. Treatments can fool skin cells to produce more collagen.

Because collagen is a natural component responsible for skin firmness and structure, its presence is essential for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction. However, something must be done to the skin to stimulate collagen regeneration. There are no magic potions which will revive old skin and eliminate wrinkles. It is a process, and these three follow the scientific path.

Retinoic Acid

This ingredient can be found in medical grade topical creams and serums. Retinoic acid is derived from vitamin A and should make up .025 to .05 percent of the product. A prescription is required with this potency, and results are gradual. Some flaking and skin tightness may be experienced as well as an increase in sun sensitivity.

You may find over-the-counter products containing retinol, but these are close to useless because of small amounts of the main ingredient.

With medical-grade products modest improvements can be experienced over time and because of the high amounts of Vitamin A, pregnant women should avoid this treatment. They should seek a topical cream high in Vitamin C.

Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing

This treatment is for those seeking a more dramatic result. New skin which is smooth and youthful can be attained, but the process is more severe and invasive.

Treatment takes about an hour in an outpatient setting with sedation. The laser sears the epidermis (skin surface) into portions of the dermis (underlying skin tissue) to eliminate old collagen and generates considerable amounts of new collagen. It achieves this by wounding the skin. A recovery is needed so the skin can be closely cared for until the healing process is complete.

Recovery can be intense and confining as your appearance will restrict you inside for two weeks. Once your skin is healed, it may remain red for up to six months.

A less invasive form of laser treatment, fractional ablative, is less invasive and cuts recovery down to about a week. These laser treatments, CO2 and fractional ablative, will set the patient back from $3,000 to $8,000 per treatment.

LED Light Therapy

Combining the convenience of topical creams with the end game results of laser treatments (without the recovery), LED light therapy finds itself the rage of the aesthetic skin care industry. Considered a medical grade solution suitable for home use, this treatment birthed from NASA technology uses low-energy produced from LED light to stimulate collagen protein production in the underlying skin tissue.

Like retinol topical creams, it is non-invasive and requires repeated treatments for results. But it also has similar results offered by the invasive procedure of laser treatments – over time.

Because of its safety and easy application, not only are LED light therapy an optimal treatment for dermatologists and clinical aestheticians, but the technology can be managed for home use as well. With no side effects and no downtime, this has become a popular choice for many seeking younger looking skin.