Antiaging regimens

This chapter presents a basic skin regimen to protect from photodamage and to reverse the appearance of aging. The four necessary steps are cleansing, exfoliation, protection, and treatment. Proper cleansing is an essential component of skincare. The inclusion of medications as components of cleansers can be effective in actually treating the skin. Exfoliation is the rejuvenation treatment providing the most immediate improvement in appearance. The single most effective therapy for aging skin is sun protection. The ability of a sunscreen to prevent UVB-mediated erythema is measured by the internationally accepted standard sun protection factor, the ratio of equivalent exposure by UVB in sunscreen-protected compared with unprotected skin. Retinoids are the "gold standard" for reversing photoaging of the skin. The skin naturally uses nutritional antioxidants to protect itself from photodamage and topical application has been investigated. Ferulic acid is a potent antioxidant present in the cell walls of grains, fruits, and vegetables.