On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I ran into Ariel, a former neighbor of mine who had relocated to California.

"Dr. Perricone this is perfect timing! I am considering undergoing some serious cosmetic procedures, and would welcome your guidance," Ariel confided. Although only in her early 40’s, Ariel showed many signs of aging on her face and neck. "I want to start with a laser resurfacing to see if I can even out my skin tone and erase some of these fine lines in my eye area," she continued. "After that I want to try Botox for the forehead frown lines."

Ariel has the peaches-and-cream complexion prevalent in many blondes and redheads. However, whatever her beauty routine was—or wasn’t—her complexion was red and irritated. Her skin appeared dry and lacked radiance. I suspected that Ariel was on a very low-fat, low-protein diet. She was not only extremely thin; her face had lost the youthful contours that only a healthy layer of subcutaneous fat can provide. In addition, the skin on her chin and around her mouth was taking on a very wrinkled, crepe-like appearance.

"Ariel," I explained, "I have helped many of my patients diminish fine lines, uneven skin tone and many other problems usually associated with aging." I suggested to Ariel that before taking these more drastic measures, she give my three-tiered approach a try for one month.

One of the great joys of practicing dermatology is seeing immediate visible effects when the right treatment is applied to a particular condition. This has been a great motivator for me during the past two decades. In fact, it inspires me to spend many hours in the laboratory looking for that next miracle ingredient that can truly deliver effective results.

For far too long, the beauty and skin care industry has focused on the look and feel of a product, its packaging and its perfume, as opposed to genuine efficacy. Since I first introduced topical formulations containing highly active ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid and DMAE, retailers have had a hard time keeping their shelves stocked with these products. A new generation of women and men are controlling the marketplace—a generation that not only wants, but demands products that work overtime to keep them as young-looking and as vital as possible.

In addition, there is an alarming trend to start serious (and very costly) surgical procedures at a younger and younger age. New fillers designed to plump up facial lines are being rushed to market. And the choice to inject Botox—a neurotoxin (nerve poison) that paralyzes muscles to smooth out wrinkles and expression lines—is rampant. These products offer the quick fix, but what is the long-term safety profile? We may not have these answers for years to come.

Neuropeptides are tiny strings of amino acids, found naturally in our bodies, which act as messengers that control many biologic functions. Neuropeptides have activity in the brain; however, they also have great activity in the skin. This is because when we are in the embryonic stage of development, the layers of cells that are responsible for making up the brain eventually develop into skin as well. In fact, there is a direct link between the brain and the action of nerves in the skin. To put it simply, what is active in the brain is also active in the skin.

This is what I refer to as the "Brain–Beauty Connection," an important focus of my research and the theme of my most recent PBS television special. Certain of the body’s natural, non-toxic neuropeptides play important roles in the beauty and appearance of the skin. As we age, the levels of neuropeptides circulating through the body diminish. Be applying selected natural neuropeptides to our skin we can help retain its youthful appearance and reduce visible signs of aging.

Some of the incredible benefits seen when using topical neuropeptides just once daily include:

• Decreased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Increased radiance
• Rapid reduction in the appearance of redness
• Increases in the appearance of the thickness of the skin
• Increases in balance and moisture of the skin at all times
• Decreases in the appearance of skin discolorations
• Decreased puffiness in the eye area
• Decreased appearance of dark under eye circles
• Decreased appearance of tiny veins and capillaries
• Increased appearance of skin tone

Ariel embraced the Perricone program wholeheartedly. She admitted to me later that she felt that she was at a crossroad. If she didn’t do something now to try to regain a more youthful and healthy appearance, it would be all downhill from here. "Dr. Perricone, let me tell you, I ate salmon at least four to five times a week," Ariel reported. "I drank the water, gave up coffee and diet soda, and made sure to include plenty of salad, olive oil, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables. And, I took the supplements, morning and evening. Not only did I not gain any unwanted weight, I actually started going to the gym again, thanks to a new-found energy level."

Ariel’s skin literally glowed. The anti-inflammatory foods and supplements helped to repair and restore her complexion from the inside out. She had also lost the gaunt and haggard look that she was beginning to develop. Much to my delight, the skin around the mouth and chin now had a smoother, more toned and firmer appearance. "I saw immediate results in my skin from the first application of the topical peptides, "Ariel continued. "It was this dramatic, visual improvement that completely motivated me to follow the entire program—in fact, I thought I was going to have an accident on the LA freeway because I could not stop admiring my new face in the rearview mirror!"

Neuropeptides are powerful messengers that deliver their message to all cells in the body. By taking advantage of their amazing and beneficial properties—as Ariel did—we can put them to the task of naturally, safely, and rapidly helping our skin to achieve optimum health and beauty.