HealthLinks Upstate July/August 2021

18 | www.Ups tatePhys i c i ansSC . com | www.Hea l thL i nksUps tate. com The best option is retinol or wrinkle cream products that contain retinol as an ingredient, said Marianne McElveen, pharmacist and owner of Kempson Rexall Drugs in Inman. OTC retinol is not as strong as prescription wrinkle creams, so, with a lower dosage, it’s appropriate for first-time users. “It’s best to start small and slowly build up,” McElveen explained. Brandi Sherbert, a pharmacist with Mount Pleasant’s Pitt Street Pharmacy, said that looking for OTC wrinkle creams with retinol or retinoic acid – a form of Vitamin A – as active ingre- dients is key, since retinoids can help repair sun damage and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol is available in creams or serums, and it works by stim- ulating cell turnover, minimizing the effect of wrinkles. It essen- tially decreases the appearance of fine lines and makes wrinkles less noticeable. Retinol also stimulates collagen production, and increased collagen means fewer wrinkles, McElveen noted. Additionally, vitamin C – ascorbic acid – and vitamin E creams and serums can address wrinkles. Both contain strong antioxidants that protect against free radicals, which can dam- age skin cells and cause wrinkles. You can also look for products that contain glycolic and citric acid, which “remove skin cells and exfoliate skin really well,” according to Sherbert. Further options include green teas, which are an anti-inflammatory, and peptides, which help with cellular production. There are other more expensive OTC wrinkle cream treat- ments, but, as Sherbert pointed out, “cost doesn’t always equate to better.” When you begin using wrinkle treatments depends on the individual, but McElveen suggested starting younger with a skin care regimen and wearing sunscreen regularly. “If you start early, it’s going to be better,” she stated. Sherbert cited different variables such as an individual’s level of outdoor exposure and personal preference, but, like McElveen, she stressed that “sunscreen can’t be started young enough,” when it comes to long-term skin protection. McElveen recommended rubbing nonprescription wrinkle treatments on at night because they increase sensitivity to sunlight. During the day, she advised using moisturizer and sunscreen. If you’ve never tried an OTC wrinkle cream, you probably will experience some redness, flaking and skin irritation initially. “That’s why they recommend starting with a lower potency and building up,” McElveen commented. Pitt Street Pharmacy generally advises applying wrinkle cream once a day in the evening to a clean, dry face, but Sher- bert added that some treatments work better when applied Until we discover that ever-elusive Fountain of Youth, we will all inevitably experience signs of aging – such as wrinkles. While we cannot defy the process of getting old, we can at least moderate its effects. One way to combat those pesky wrinkles is with over-the-counter treatments.