Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Does Dr. Perricone's DMAE Really Tone And Tighten Skin?

Dr. Perricone is a dermatologist who has taken the anti aging industry by storm. With several best-selling books and a wildly successful product line, Dr. Perricone is quickly becoming a house-hold name.

One of the main ingredients in Dr. Perricone's product line is DMAE. DMAE(dimethylethanolamine) is a chemical produced in the brain. DMAE has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's and senility. People who supplement orally with DMAE have reported higher levels of concentration and an overall increase in energy and cognitive skills.

For the past 6 years or so, a lot of buzz has been floating around about DMAE and the effect it has on aging skin-particularly sagging skin. As a matter of fact, DMAE as an anti aging product has become extremely popular as a result of Dr. Perricone's book- "The Wrinkle Cure". "The Wrinkle Cure" advocates using DMAE topically as well as orally for toned, wrinkle-free skin.

Many of Dr. Perricone's clients in his book have used DMAE topically with almost miraculous results. Some claim that the results were almost instant, making their skin tighter and more toned only a few minutes after application. If these claims were accurate this would make DMAE one of the biggest anti aging breakthroughs of the century.

As always, I decided to be my own guinea pig and try DMAE out for myself.

You can purchase DMAE in 2 forms: DMAE bitartrate and DMAE amine. (All Dr. Perricone's DMAE products contain DMAE amine.) I purchased both forms to see if there was any difference in the two. Here's my experience:

Even though I am 37 years old, I don't have sagging skin on my face. I wanted to use DMAE where I would notice a viable difference in the tone of my skin. I decided to use it on my neck and chest where I didn't have any sagging but where I did have some sun damage and change of skin texture.

I tried the DMAE bitartrate first. I applied it every morning and evening right after washing my face. After using the DMAE bitartrate faithfully for 2 weeks, I noticed no difference in the texture of my skin or in the tone. There was absolutely no difference in my skin-good or bad.

It was time to give the DMAE amine a try.

About 20 minutes after my first application, I noticed a big difference in my skin. It became tighter and more toned. After a few days of regular use (2x a day) the texture became thicker and more resilient. Naturally I was thrilled. I thought I had discovered a true miracle product. No other product I had used was able to produce these kinds of results so quickly. I continued to use the DMAE amine and it continued to work its magic. Very few anti aging products impress me-most of them are all hype. But I was very impressed with the results I got from the DMAE amine.

After using the DMAE amine 2x a day for about a month, I began to notice a redness developing on my chest and neck. I continued to use the DMAE, thinking that I had come in contact with something my skin didn't agree with. After 3 more days my skin got progressively worse. I developed a nasty rash that looked like poison ivy on the front of my neck and chest. I stopped using the DMAE and after a few days the rash cleared up.

I decided to do a little more research on DMAE before using it on my skin again. Here's what I found:

DMAE bitartrate is PH balanced for skin and is less likely to cause irritation or rashes. Results using this form of DMAE have been mixed. Some people have had good results using DMAE bitartrate, but these results can take up to 2 months or more to take effect. Others, even after using DMAE bitartrate for up to a year, did not notice any beneficial difference in the elasticity or texture of their skin.

DMAE amine is a pure form of DMAE and is highly alkaline. It is not good for the skin's PH and may cause rashes and extreme irritation even when applied with a high quality moisturizer. But the results when using this form of DMAE have been astonishing. Skin is noticeably tighter and more toned in about 20 minutes- unlike the DMAE bitartrate which can take months to see results- if at all. And remember, all of Dr. Perricone's subjects in his book have gotten their results using DMAE amine.

I have also found evidence that DMAE, no matter what form, has a damaging effect on skin.

Canadian researches have found that DMAE produces incredible results in skin and skin tone by damaging the very skin it is purported to help.

How does DMAE damage skin?

According to the researchers, when DMAE is applied to skin, it causes swelling of the skin cells as they fill with DMAE and water. This causes the epidermis to thicken. (This is what produces the toning and tightening effect of the skin.) DMAE has also been shown to be toxic to the skin. Cells stop dividing and after a 24 hour period, most of the skin cells that have come in contact with DMAE die.

But before you throw away your DMAE lotions or cream, some researchers believe DMAE may not be as bad for your skin as you think. Even though the evidence is pretty strong that DMAE does in fact cause some skin damage, it may actually help the skin by doing so.

The damage caused by DMAE in turn causes the skin's healing process to kick in. This can improve the structure and tone of the skin, making it stronger and more resilient. Skin peels and Alpha Hydroxy Acids work in exactly the same way. There is a controlled damage to the skin followed by a healing process which then brings about glowing, radiant skin. (Although AHAS and skin peels don't cause skin cells to die, only to repair themselves.)

What researchers still haven't discovered is if prolonged use of DMAE is actually helping the skin's ability to renew itself or damaging the skin too severely for the repair process to be of any benefit. Long term studies still need to be performed for these questions to be answered.

If you are currently using DMAE, especially the amine form, please pay attention to any changes in your skin- such as sudden irritation or redness or a raised rash. Remember, your skin can repair itself, but there is a point of no return.

I hope this information has shed some light on DMAE and the effect it has on the skin. Whether you use DMAE or not is a decision you have to make on your own.

The intent of this article is not to dissuade you from using DMAE nor is it a ringing endorsement. Use this information to make the best decision for you and the health of your skin.

Resources:

British Journal of Dermatology
healthcentral.com
newbeauty.com

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Drinking 64 Ounces of Water a Day For Wrinkle-free Skin is an Anti Aging Myth

The Water Myth is one of the most widespread anti aging myths perpetuated on the American public (and abroad).I know that a lot of you who are reading this article right now probably have your bottle of spring water with you at this very moment, just about to take another swallow and getting you ever closer to your 64 oz. a day quota. But before you take another drink, read on. This information may surprise you.

Myth 1 – You must drink 8-8 ounce glasses of water a day for beautiful skin and optimum health.

The Truth- Most nutritionists have no idea where this number comes from. "I can't even tell you that," says Barbara Rolls, a nutrition researcher at Pennsylvania State University, "and I've written a book on water."Kidney specialists agree that the 8-by-8 rule is a gross overestimate of any required minimum. To replace daily losses of water, an average-sized adult with healthy kidneys sitting in a temperate climate needs no more than one liter of fluid, according to Jurgen Schnermann, a kidney physiologist at the National Institutes of Health. One liter is the equivalent of about four 8-ounce glasses. According to most estimates, that's roughly the amount of water most Americans get in solid food. In short, though doctors don't recommend it, many of us could cover our bare-minimum daily water needs without drinking anything during the day.

Myth 2- Most people are dehydrated and need large amounts of water to alleviate this condition.

The Truth- "The notion that there is widespread dehydration has no basis in medical fact," says Dr. Robert Alpern, dean of the medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Doctors from a wide range of specialties agree: By all evidence, we are a well-hydrated nation. Furthermore, they say, the current infatuation with water as an all-purpose health potion — anti aging tonic for the skin, key to weight loss — is a blend of fashion and fiction and very little science.

Myth 3- If you wait until your body tells you it is thirsty to drink water, you are already dehydrated.

The Truth- An Institute of Medicine Panel reached the rational conclusion that on a daily basis people get enough water from normal drinking behavior, such as drinking beverages at meals and in other social situations, and by letting their thirst guide them. Every day you lose water from the body through urine and sweat, and this fluid needs to be replenished. However, your body has come equipped with a mechanism that tells you when you need to replenish your supply--it’s called thirst. When your body begins to lose from 1 percent to 2 percent of its total water, your thirst mechanism lets you know that it’s time to drink some water. If you are healthy, then drinking whenever you feel thirsty should be an adequate guide of how much water you need. (Paraphrased from Dr. Joseph Mercolas website.)

Why am telling you all this? Will drinking 8 glasses of water actually do some physical harm?

Probably not. There are worse habits. Water is the best beverage to have around in almost all situations. But we have gone overboard with our obsession with water and hitting some magic daily number.

I know because I too was a water myth victim. I was told that drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day would make my skin glow and give me an overall sense of well- being. Because I am skin-obsessed and an anti ager, I started carrying water bottles with me everywhere. To work, at restaurants, friends houses, grocery shopping… I was afraid to drink wine with my dinner for fear that I wouldn’t reach my water goal for the day if I did.

For a well over a year, I drank my eight glasses a day faithfully. And did my skin glow with the beauty of inner health? Did I feel like I was achieving a level of health beyond anything I had achieved before?

The answers are NO and NO. Here’s what I did receive for all my efforts.

Going to the bathroom every half hour. Being awaken every night around three AM to urinate and a growing hatred for water or anything watered down.

I fell off the water wagon a year ago. I only drink water when I am thirsty or after exercising or both. Other than that I hate water. And here’s the best part, even though I don’t nearly drink as much as water as I did, I still can’t make it through the night without going to the bathroom.

Does this mean you should abandon water, also? Just quit cold turkey and get on with your life?

I talked to a few nutritionists and physicians on this subject and here’s what most of them recommend.

1. Drink water with meals whenever possible. If you want to have wine with dinner, drink water for lunch. If you have soda for lunch, drink water for dinner. Water aids in digestion and makes you feel fuller.

2. Drink a cup of water in the morning when you first wake up. Not only does it help with the bad taste in your mouth but your body has been in repair mode all night and would appreciate the extra hydration boost. (You can still have your coffee or tea in the morning. Just drink some water first.)

3. Drink water whenever you feel thirsty.

4. Always drink plenty of water after exercising. A full 16 ounces is optimal.

5. Keep water with you at all times if you are going to be outside in hot, humid weather for an hour or more. Even if you are not expending much energy you are losing a lot of water through perspiration because your body is doing everything possible to remain cool. If you have to work in hot weather, carry along at least a gallon of water with you everywhere you go. A mid- size cooler with a spout is ideal.

Most importantly, STOP stressing about your water intake. Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise and enjoy life everyday. There are plenty of things in life that will give you grief. Don’t let some made up water quota be one of them.

Sources: www.snopes.com/toxins/water.htm

Dr. Joseph Mercola
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/

The rest of my information came from a Google search. Just type in the question “Do we really need 8 glasses of water a day?” The results will amaze you.