Dermaceuticals: Antagonize Your Age

It's great to have the wisdom of the ages, but that doesn't mean you wantyour skin to reflect it. And with a relatively new branch of topical skin-care products, perhaps it doesn't have to.

Called "dermaceuticals," these products supposedly spur the repair of sun-damaged skin, effectively making skin look years younger. "Anything that enhances repair and growth will slow down the aging process," explains Mauro Romita, M.D., owner and medical director of the Ajune day spa in New York City. Luckily, dermaceuticals don't always require a prescription, and soon they'll be even easier to obtain. This year, Revlon plans to launch a new line of products containing kinetin, a naturally occurring plant enzyme that significantly reduced the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage in recent research at the University of California at Irvine.

If you're in the market for dermaceuticals, here's what to look for:

RETINOIDS. Derived from vitamin A, these are more commonly known by their brand names--Retin-A and Renova--and require a prescription. First used as acne drugs, they also work to repair sun damage and reduce fine lines.

ANTIOXIDANTS. Topical creams containing antioxidants like vitamin C or coenzyme Q 10 rebuild collagen and stop free radicals from interfering with the body's own natural repair process.

EXFOLIANTS. These compounds-glycolic, alpha hydroxy and salicylic acids-slough off aged, dead skin to make room for new, healthy skin.

LIGHTENING AGENTS. Containing hydroquinione or kojic acid, these agents block pigment cells from producing freckles, age spots and melanoma. Hydroquinione requires a prescription.

ADVANCED SUNBLOCKS. These contain aggressive blockers that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. According to Romita, they are "very effective in repairing the damage to DNA done by ultraviolet light."

So don't fret about frown lines. Instead, give your skin a dermaceutical boost--and yourself a confident smile in the mirror.