Does your anti-ageing cream really work?

New Delhi, Aug 27 : If you’re skeptical about the anti-ageing skin care claims, then you’re not alone.

There is a lot of hype and false claims around whether or not that skin cream can actually reverse ageing.

Here’s Dr. Sirisha Singh’s take on this “million dollar question,” who is the founding member and Medical Director of The Skin Center.

There is no simple yes or no answer, but scientific studies show that some anti-ageing ingredients slow down the process and can also reverse some and not all signs of growing older.

To put things in perspective, ageing is a relentless and multifactorial process, during which changes occur in the skin, the fatty tissue under the skin, the muscles and even the bony structure of the face.

Anti-ageing creams work only on the skin and can reverse the component of ageing that happens due to changes in the skin. They do not help with the changes in the fatty tissues under the skin, the bony structure etc.

Ageing afflicts the Asian skin and Caucasian skin very differently. Asian skin tends to develop pigmentation and spots at an early stage while it develops lines and wrinkles only at a later stage. Caucasian skin on the other hand tends to develop lines and wrinkles at an earlier stage.

The commonly used anti-ageing creams contain retinol, beta hydroxyl acids, hyaluronic acid, peptides, amino acids, vitamins, stem cells and a huge range of plant and algae extracts have also hit the market in a big way.

Many anti-ageing creams are sold over the counter and the market is exploding at a rapid pace. Some anti-ageing creams however have a medical license and are obtained on dermatologist prescription only. (ANI)