My understanding of AHA is that if it is in a cleanser than you are just washing it right off your face and it is not doing any good. - it should be used on it's own or in a moisturizer under your sunscreen.

Also sunscreen should be used when you're a baby and everyday after that. Skin damage shows up on you later in life especially if you have not taken care of your skin prior to age 18. My father had skin cancer severely where he had to have part of his ear removed and every two weeks big black scabs would show on his face in different places. It was terrible! When I was younger I never used sunscreen because it just wasn't noted or available - no fault at all of my parents because there was no way that they could know.

I had a black light put over my face in the dark while I was looking in a mirror, although I don't have many wrinkles I have skin damage showing up as freckles all over my face (you cannot see any freckles by just looking at me but you can see the photoaging image under black light).

Take care of yourself now. Use Sunscreen SPF15 atleast daily.

I also understand that Retin-A and Renova are the prescription items that make your face look better, but the skin damage is permanent.

[This message has been edited by imeia (edited 03-23-2003).]

Yes, AHA acids work very well in wrinkle reduction. They also have a great exfoliating property hence my suggestion to use as a cleanser. It may also be less irritating to sensitive skin if used as a cleanser only since many skins become very irritated from these acids (if left on skin for a prolonged period of time). However, if one's skin can tolerate them then, by all means, these acids (there are a number of them) can be very beneficial in wrinkle reduction. Actually there is a host of products that have wrinkle reducing (anti-aging) properties and these are: AHA, Vitamin A (Renova, Retin-A (Tretinoin) , copper peptides, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C. What one chooses depends on many different criteria, one being skin's sensitivity. Main point is not to overdo things by using them all at once. This can be disastrous for the skin and make it all blotchy, irritated and not very pretty.


[This message has been edited by rita (edited 03-23-2003).]