Anti Aging Treatments

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine

Anti Aging Treatments can be found everywhere!

As I was flipping through a fashion magazine the other day, I came across an ad for a new anti aging treatment; a new skin cream. Now, I’ve always been somewhat of a cosmetic junkie, especially when it comes to natural skin care. And particularly if a product includes nutrients that can diminish wrinkles. But this ad really made me do a double-take.

Why? Well, it seems that the folks at L’Oréal have come up with a magic new ingredient – boswellia extract! Now, I know that boswellia can reduce inflammation and is a key botanical for fighting arthritis and reducing C-Reactive Protein (a factor in heart disease and some cancers), but wrinkles? Supposedly this new complex, known as Boswelox™, fights the results of the micro-contractions in the skin that lead to wrinkles. Yeah, right.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and keeping it healthy is vital for both women and men. Healthy skin helps eliminate toxins, acts as your body’s thermostat and offers a protective shield from the outside world. So, will slathering on topical boswellia make your skin healthier, or even younger looking? Probably not. Although boswellia is a terrific for reducing internal inflammation, I really doubt it will do anything for your skin.

A Wrinkle In Time

I just love how the marketing departments at the big cosmetic companies change the way our bodies work. Although science has provided overwhelming evidence that too much sun combined with a poor diet are the real villains leading to fine lines and wrinkles, cosmetic companies now claim that skin contractions are the culprit. And, as long as the product isn’t classified as a drug, this type of deception is ok with the FDA.

Forget the contraction theory (or should I say “fantasy”). Smile, frown, furrow your brow all you want – because the real reason we develop wrinkles is oxidative damage. Here’s how it works: overexposure to the sun and other environmental elements create unstable molecules that damage skin cells and destroy the collagen and elastin which keeps our skin firm. Just as oxidation makes a cut apple turn brown, researchers found that this same corrosive process occurs when skin is exposed to the elements. Antioxidants, abundant in our skin during our younger days, can neutralize the damage, but as the years increase, the tiny vessels in the epidermis aren’t able to feed the skin.

While consuming foods rich in antioxidants can help combat the damage from within, applying them topically can boost the skin’s defenses while minimizing the effects of aging. In fact, according to an 18-month study of 111 women, age 35-45, conducted by the University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, topical antioxidants applied to the arms and face reduced lines and wrinkles more effectively than taking oral antioxidants.

There are a slew of natural anti aging treatments and antioxidants that can fight wrinkles. Numerous studies have found that the polyphenols in green tea provide superior antioxidant protection against sun-induced skin damage. Co-Q10 is another nutrient that fights oxidative stress and reduces visible wrinkle depth, according to a study by German researchers who found that long-term use of topical Co-Q10 can actually diminish those nasty crow’s feet. Both of these ingredients can be found in a number of skin care products.

For more intense therapy, look for moisturizers and anti-aging treatments containing L-arginine, an amino acid found in high concentrations in the skin’s connective tissue and a component of collagen. Used topically, researchers from Martin Luther University in Halle/Saale, Germany have found that L-arginine offers therapy for dry skin. Another study at Kocaeli University in Turkey discovered that the amino acid also boosts collagen levels.

Newer still are creams containing L-carnosine, a naturally-occurring dipeptide that Australian scientists have found plays an important role in cellular balance, and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 156 women, age 35 to 60, by the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ, found significant improvement in sagging and furrows among the women using topical DMAE compared to those using a placebo.

ACE Your Face

Topical vitamins can also boost your skin’s defenses against sun damage, particularly vitamins A, C and E. The best known of the three is vitamin A – known as retinol. Study after study shows that retinol can short-circuit the damage done by exposure to ultraviolet light. And, unlike its prescription-strength cousin Retin-A, retinol is gentler on sensitive skin.

Clinical trials have found that vitamin C not only helps to prevent oxidative damage, it can actually help rebuild collagen. But, since vitamin C is highly unstable, many of the skin care products containing it simply don’t work. Another problem is that many anti-aging creams don’t contain enough vitamin C to do any good. One stable and readily accessible form is Ester-C. If you want something that really works, look for products that contain a 10 percent concentration of Ester-C.

The third nutrient is something you already know about – vitamin E. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. have found that applying vitamin E offers direct protection against oxidative stress and helps thicken the epidermal layer of the skin, effectively reducing the appearance of premature aging. And when it comes to turning back time, anecdotal evidence suggests that the regular application of vitamin E rich creams helps fade age spots.

One Last Thing ...

When it comes to nutrients, you can help stave off future skin damage from the inside out. Although numerous studies have heralded the benefits of taking skin-friendly antioxidant supplements, certain foods can also help prevent oxidative damage. Berries are packed with powerful polyphenols, salmon and other cold-water fish are rich in moisture-promoting omega-3 fatty acids, and red or dark orange veggies are loaded with vitamins A, E and bioflavonoids.

Another smart addition to your dinner plate, say researchers from Harvard Medical School, are dark green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, which are high in lutein. According to recent research, lutein not only protects against skin cancer, it reduces the signs of cellular damage. And don’t forget to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated and flush away toxins that can leave your skin looking dull and sluggish.

This Just In ...

If you had chickenpox when you were a kid, you may think that you’re now immune to the varicella-zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox). Well, maybe you are, and then again, maybe you’re a prime candidate for shingles.

While traditional wisdom holds that, once you’ve had the childhood disease, the dormant varicella virus protects you from future outbreaks, some people find that the virus can reactivate decades later in the form of shingles. The first sign is usually a tingling feeling, itchiness or stabbing pain on the skin. After a few days, a rash appears as a band or patch of raised dots on the side of the trunk or face. The rash then develops into small, fluid-filled blisters which begin to dry out and crust over within several days. When the rash is at its peak, symptoms can range from mild itching to intense pain. It’s no party. But new research from the University of California Los Angeles shows that performing tai chi on a regular basis just might keep the varicella virus under wraps.

The study tested 36 men and women, average age 70, who had suffered from chickenpox as a child. Half took tai chi classes three times a week while the other half didn’t do anything extra. Fifteen weeks later, the researchers tested their immune systems and also their general health. Those who had done the tai chi not only felt better, they had a boost of up to 50 percent in the immune cells called memory T-cells. Memory T-cells specifically recognize and attack varicella.

Even if you aren’t harboring varicella, tai chi is a terrific way to exercise. It reduces stress, improves balance and flexability, and, since it is considered a weight-bearing exercise, it’s great for your bones. Check out your neighborhood gym or community center for classes.

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References:

Erickson K. Drop Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics. Contemporary Books. 2002.

Hoppe U, et al. “Coenzyme Q10, a cutaneous antioxidant and energizer.” Biofactors. 1999;9:371-378.

Irwin M, et al. “Effects of a Behavioral Intervention, Tai Chi Chih, on Varicella-Zoster Virus Specific Immunity and Health Functioning in Older Adults.” Psychosomatic Medicine. 2003 65: 824-830.

Katiyar SK, et al. “ Green tea polyphenolic antioxidants and skin photoprotection.” International Journal of Oncology. 2001;18:1307-1313.

Nusgens BV, et al. “Topically applied vitamin C enhances the mRNA level of collagens I and III, their processing enzymes and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in the human dermis.” Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2001;116:853-859.

Ritter EF, et al. “Modulation of ultraviolet light-induced epidermal damage: beneficial effects of tocopherol.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 1997;100:973-980.

Wohlrab J, et al. “The influence of L-arginine on the regulation of epidermal arginase.” Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology.2002;15:44-54.

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