If appropriate, a Mahimo-affiliated physician will prescribe a nightly defense prescription cream with active ingredients hand-selected to address your skin concerns. These ingredients may include tretinoin, niacinamide, ceramides, vitamin E (acetate), azelaic acid, MAP, and tranexamic acid. If prescribed, you will receive information on ingredients and use in your personalized treatment plan.

There are several ways to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and even remove them.

  • Retinoids (tretinoin, Altreno, Retin-A, Renova). Among medical treatments, this is by far the most proven and effective way of bettering signs of aging such as uneven pigmentation, roughness, and wrinkling. At first, these medications may cause redness and peeling. Although this can be unpleasant, improvement comes when the peeling stops.
  • Alpha-hydroxy acids. These are the so-called “fruit acids” and include glycolic and lactic acid. Preparations containing these fruit acids are quite safe and cause no more than mild and temporary irritation. The improvement they produce is, however, relatively subtle.
  • Antioxidants. These include vitamins A, C, and E, as well as beta-carotene. Products that have antioxidants may provide some sun protection (though you should still wear sunscreen) and mildly improve wrinkles.
  • Moisturizers. These may temporarily make wrinkles look less noticeable. Ads often say that they “reduce the appearance of fine lines.” But they don’t make those lines go away permanently.
  • Glycolic acid peels. These superficial peels can make a very slight difference in the intensity of fine wrinkles.
  • Deeper peels. These peels use ingredients like phenol, salicylic acid, TCA and trichloroacetic acid and penetrate somewhat deeper into the skin. These deeper peels do a better job of smoothing fine lines. In general, however, the deeper the peel, the greater the chance of side effects, such as scarring and changes in skin color. Such peels can be uncomfortable, so ask ahead of time what to expect.
  • Dermabrasion. This procedure “sands” the skin. Depending on a great deal on the skill and experience of the professional who does it, dermabrasion can make a big difference. Side effects, including scarring and permanent changes in skin color, are also possible.