Skin Firming

The Truth About Skin Firming Products

As we age, it is natural to begin thinking about Skin Firming products that may help us look our best and shave a few years off our appearance. But do such anti aging treatments really work?

While we would like to think that we can improve the appearance of our aging skin with its wrinkles and sags, it will depend on the composition of the skin firming creams we apply and to what extent our skin was damaged in youth by our bad habits and such conditions as acne and eczema. There are many skin care products that can help our skin looks its best at any age but you should be aware of the truth about the majority of them.

Safety and Effectiveness of Anti Aging Treatments

According to the FDA, any anti wrinkle creams or skin firming lotions are classified as cosmetics and not pharmaceuticals. As such, they are not regulated in a strict manner, although potentially hazardous ingredients are not allowed or require clear warnings on the label.

Their safety and effectiveness are not tested before they are put on the market for the average consumer to purchase. This means that many of the products touting their ability to turn back the clock are making unsubstantiated claims.

Any over-the-counter skin firming or anti wrinkle cream needs to be evaluated cautiously. Take into consideration these factors before you purchase a product that may not live up to your expectations:

•    Don’t believe all the promises of the newest, latest ingredients to be included in these creams. While there is a lot of research currently being performed, the nonprescription forms that you can buy in the drugstore may or may not have been subjected to the standards normally applied by pharmaceutical companies regulated by the FDA.
•    Any active ingredients in over-the-counter products will contain much lower concentrations than is available with a prescription. You cannot achieve dramatic results with a lower concentration.
•    A more expensive product is not necessarily more effective than a cheaper one. The ingredients are the important factor, not the label or manufacturer.
•    Know that it is going to take time to see any improvement in your under eye wrinkles or other symptoms of aging skin. You will have to use a skin firming cream twice a day for several weeks before any visible improvement can be seen. Signs of improvement may also be temporary and stop when product use is discontinued.
•    Read the fine print to determine possible side effects. Remember that the FDA does regulate ingredients with possible harmful effects, so it is probably safe to use any anti-aging lotions you find available for sale, but only if you are aware of the contraindications.

Do look for active ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, CoQ10, green tea extract, and kinetin. A treatment with sunscreen is an added bonus that will help protect your skin from exposure to the sun’s damaging rays.

Yes, Skin Firming products can work. But don’t expect drastic changes without surgery.