Skin. The body’s largest organ. Visible to all and the measure by which our age is presumed. Skin can be the key to putting our best face forward or to making us self-conscious and not quite as confident as we’d like to be. Fortunately, there are many anti-aging skin care options available when we choose to seek them out, and they’re available in over the counter and prescription options. Both OTC and prescription skin care products contain some of the same ingredients but in different strengths.
Options
There are too many skin care and anti-aging options available to enumerate, but we can focus on a group that’s become very familiar – peptides. The most easily recognized of these peptide powerhouses are keratin, elastin, and collagen. Keratin and elastin are added to many hair and skin care products and collagen is even available as an oral supplement.
What Exactly is Collagen?
Collagen is commonly known for its role in maintaining elasticity in the skin. As we age, our bodies produce less up to 30% less collagen, making our skin:
- Appear wrinkled
- Develop crepey under eyes
- Sag
- Appear less plump
None of us want to appear older than we are, so collagen seems like a natural, and maybe even first choice, when choosing something to add to our skin care regimen.
What’s the Most Effective Form of Collagen?
There are so many ways to incorporate collagen into our daily routine. There are collagen tablets, powders, and liquids available. Collagen is added to other supplements or vitamins and marketed as part of a wellness protocol. While oral collagen supplements may be effective for anti-aging of the skin, there isn’t any conclusive evidence to support that claim. Current research is unclear about how much, if any, oral collagen makes it through the digestive process. Collagen used for skin care and anti-aging is actually much more effective when generated through the use of retinoid products, and, specifically, tretinoin.
Prescription Strength Products
When used under the care of a dermatologist, prescription strength retinoid products like tretinoin are highly effective in an anti-aging skin care routine. We know that dermatological care isn’t always accessible because of lack of proximity to a dermatologist, care that isn’t covered by insurance, or because your schedule makes an in-person appointment difficult. Our practice, The Derm NP, provides exceptional care that circumvents all three of those obstacles.
The Derm NP provides telehealth dermatology consultations to patients in fifteen states across our nation. Our consultations are $37 per visit because we want to make exceptional care accessible.
Contact us at (630)233-9767 or thedermnp@thedermnp.com today to schedule an appointment for tretinoin or other anti-aging skin care products. We want to help you maintain the fresh, plump skin of your halcyon days.
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Disclaimer: The information contained here was not written by a medical doctor and is intended for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical advice.
