I never thought to use skin care products but when I was playing golf three and four days a week my dermatologist, a woman with skin so clear it was like looking into a pool of clear water, told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to start using sunblock and moisturizer every day, twice a day. And since the mother of the woman I dated as a young man had a face that looked like shoe leather from daily golf, I dutifully took her advice.
That was as far as I went in that direction until recently, when a representative of Dermagenics sent me a jar of Men's Mega-Hydrating Anti-Aging Cream, which claims to reduce large pores, fine lines and wrinkles while hydrating the skin and performing other technical miracles. Like other products of its ilk the stuff is not inexpensive - at $85 it is more than four times the cost of the Neutragena moisturizer I have been using - but I thought I might as well try it even though I would still need to apply sunblock. And I have.
The issue with this kind of product of course is that customers have to take it on faith. The consensus opinion from the bit of reading I have done is that there may be some incremental benefit from these creams but a daily application of Vaseline will accomplish much the same thing for a small fraction of the cost (of course, few among us are likely to adopt a bedtime coating of petroleum jelly to our faces each evening - if the stuff that some women coat on their faces before bed is complete justification for a guy to move to a separate bedroom then it is only fair that the reverse should also be true). In other words, after a month of twice a day application any difference between moisturizer A and moisturizer B is usually too subtle to see, though fortunately they are generally absorbed into the skin unlike the aforesaid Vaseline and those masks that the women who sleep in separate bedrooms wear.
But if you do not currently use SPF 30 or stronger sunblock when outdoors, go get some.
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5 comments:
Good Sir,
I would like to bring up a few points about sun screen. First, most sunscreens only block UVB light which is what causes the skin to burn, but UVA light is what causes melanoma, the worst type of skin cancer. So when you normally would burn and not go outside, sunscreen will allow you to over expose yourself to UVA.
Second, Vitamin D is very important which is created by a reaction to UV-B in the skin. Many people are Vit D deficient because of a lack of sun exposure. Now in your blog post you reference golfing regularly so I don’t see that happening to you but making sure the type of sunscreen you use covers both types of light is important.
Thanks for doing this blog!
There is also a paradoxical issue with too strong a sun screen blocking Vitamin D intake, and, Dennis, many folks are quite deficient in Vit D levels. This is something I've found to be true in many patients. Another tact might be liquid Vitamin D on the tongue and wear your sunscreen!
I agree with the sentiments of Will that many of these creams and lotions do much the same thing as petroleum jelly.
I have been using SPF 30 sunscreen for decades, and while my face is not perfectly smooth, you only see my lines and wrinkles when I smile. This in contrast to my sunscreen-free brother, whose face is well-lined.
I do, however, have a few blemishes caused by the sun. So what?
Sunscreen is important.
My dermatologist gave me the following advice after removing a few skin cancers.
For face and neck nightly application of Tretinoin (RetinA)to help moisturise and kep wrinkles at bay and a daily face cover of SPF30+.
I now use Cetaphil UVA/UVB SPF30+.
Both these products last me about 4 months and cost half the price of your gorgeous looking cream.
Thank you for taking the time to write about our new men’s anti-aging cream!
You’re right, many moisturizers have the same effect as petroleum jelly, yet cost much more. However, our product is not designed to sit on the surface of the skin and merely prevent moisture from escaping. Our cream is a much different animal. It has been formulated to penetrate to the epidermal-dermal junction, where it stimulates collagen and elastin production. This results in a reduction of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, and a more toned, youthful skin texture.
When looking at ingredients, our product actually compares with other anti-aging moisturizers in the $200 to $300 range. The formula includes proven anti-aging ingredients such as artemia extract and hexapeptide-9, in addition to potent antioxidants such as green tea and vitamin C. Our goal was to create a high-end, “luxury level” skin care line, without the “luxury level” price tag. We do realize that the $85 price tag does not really compare with budget drug store options, but compared to the $200 and $300 luxury creams, we really are quite a bargain!
Your point, and your readers’ points about sunscreen are very accurate. Most sunscreens offer only partial protection against UVA rays, or none at all! Also, it is UVA rays which penetrate deeper into the skin and cause skin cancer and wrinkles. Our physical barrier sunscreen offers 95% UVA and UVB protection, and lasts all day. The sunscreen is also non-comedogenic and hypopallergenic, while the chemicals in most other sunscreens can irritate the skin and burn the eyes.
Floreat also makes some great points. Please note that Retin-A will make your skin much more sensitive to UV rays. Also, the sunscreen you mentioned uses common sunscreen chemicals (such as Oxybenzone) which may irritate your skin, and could even absorb the sun’s rays deeper into the skin, causing skin cancer. I highly recommend you consider trying a physical barrier sunscreen, rather than using an absorbing chemical sunscreen.
The problem with many of the moisturizing sunscreens is that they try to serve a dual purpose of protecting against the sun’s rays, and hydrating the skin at the same time. Any product that claims to sit on top of the skin, while also delivery hydration or nutrition, is likely not very effective at doing either. Our moisturizer is designed to penetrate the skin and achieve skin rejuvenation. Our sunscreen on the other hand, is designed to suspend a protective shield on the surface of the skin, so that UVA and UVB rays are reflected away. This is an important difference, especially considering the increasing incidence of skin cancer.
Our entire product line takes an unconventional approach to skin care, and the results are superior. Our customers are those that appreciate cutting edge technology and want the best skin care solutions for younger looking skin.
We welcome additional questions or feedback. Thanks again!
Jason Barbaria
Dermagenics
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