One of my most exciting discoveries came about almost by accident. Several years ago I met with Rebecca, a new patient interested in starting an anti-aging regimen. At 34 years of age, Rebecca was already a top editor at a highly regarded beauty and fashion magazine—in fact, we had met when she interviewed me for a feature story on my first book, The Wrinkle Cure.

Although Rebecca did not have loss of skin tone or deep wrinkles, fine lines were beginning to appear in the eye area. She was also losing that radiance and bloom of youth that characterizes the skin of women in their teens and twenties. I started Rebecca on a regimen of topical antioxidants with an emphasis on alpha lipoic acid and DMAE. I recommended that Rebecca apply Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Firming Activator to her face and neck morning and evening.

At our follow-up appointment six weeks later, Rebecca was bubbling with happiness, "You will not believe this Dr. Perricone," she enthused. "Everyone is raving about my skin—and that’s not all. The scars on my cheek and jaw line that remained from a teenage bout with acne have all but disappeared!"

Alpha lipoic acid’s ability to greatly diminish the appearance of scars has been tested many times. Studies have been completed showing that alpha lipoic acid indeed can prevent and reverse scar formation. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study by plastic surgeon D. G. Genecov, M.D.* and his group applied alpha lipoic acid twice daily to the scars generated by cleft lip palate surgery on the upper lip of children. The children's parents applied the cream twice daily, not knowing whether it was an inactive base or a cream containing alpha lipoic acid. After one year, the results revealed that those receiving the alpha lipoic acid cream had much diminished scar formation. Their lips appeared almost normal as opposed to those receiving the placebo. Thanks to studies such as these, I believe alpha lipoic acid will be used on a regular basis to help prevent and treat scar tissue in the future.

It is not surprising that alpha lipoic acid would work on scars as well as wrinkles—and here's why:

Alpha lipoic acid stops the activation of NF kappa B, thereby suppressing the inflammatory response within the cell. In addition, alpha lipoic acid also controls a transcription factor called AP-1. AP-1 is activated when a cell is under oxidative stress—that is, when there is an excess of free radicals and not enough protection from antioxidants. Once activated, AP-1 heads straight for the nucleus of the cell where it activates the genes that control the production of enzymes that can digest collagen. This digestion of collagen is actually one of the causative factors in the birth of a wrinkle.

It is also important to note that alpha lipoic acid exerts an even greater action on AP-1, and it is this:  You see, while AP-1 can be activated by destructive free radicals, it can also be activated by alpha lipoic acid! On the face of it, this does not sound like good news. However there is a significant difference in its effects, depending on what activates AP-1. When AP-1 is activated by alpha lipoic acid, the enzymes activated by AP-1 digest only damaged collagen. Because scars are made up of damaged collagen, alpha lipoic acid can actually reverse existing scar tissue.

If your goal is to keep your skin as young and supple as possible and diminish the appearance of unsightly scars along the way, topical alpha lipoic acid could be what you are looking for.

Warm regards,

*Genecov DG, Salyer KE, Kemer MA, Goldberg S, Cho J. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and scar formation in repaired cleft lips. Serial number 462, pp. 495-499, International Society of Cleft Lip and Palate, June 2001.