Usefulness of OTC Anti-Wrinkle Products Questionable…

The (May 2, Lazar) noted that a primary ingredient in many over-the-counter anti-aging face care products is “retinol, a vitamin A compound that is less potent than another vitamin A derivative, tretinoin, which has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles” but is available “only by a prescription.” Dermatologists say some OTC creams with “retinol may lessen the appearance of fine lines.” But it is hard to determine whether the OTC “products live up to their promises.” Although most OTC anti-aging products “are not scrutinized by regulators for effectiveness,” approximately “eight dozen companies” are listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s “most recent ‘Yellow List'” for imported skin care products that “may have ‘exaggerated anti aging claims,'” including some “well-known names” such as “Chanel, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, and Revlon.”