Question 319 of 433
What actually works for skin at home?
The short answer
Sunscreen every morning and a prescription retinoid at night. Everything else is a distant third.
Tretinoin is the only cream approved for sun-damaged skin, with decades of trials showing smoother texture and new collagen. It costs little as a generic. It irritates at first, makes skin sun-sensitive, and must not be used in pregnancy.
“Exosome” serums and facials are sold as cosmetics; no exosome product is FDA approved for anything, and the studies are small and paid for by the makers. Machine facials that cleanse and hydrate feel pleasant and last a few days. A rapamycin cream showed interesting changes in one small study and is far from proven.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
ROBUST HUMAN TRIALS for sunscreen and tretinoin skin outcomes; LIMITED for most newer cosmetic claims.Evidence grade (draft mapping)ARobust human trialsBLimited or small human studiesPart 21, Q319 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.