"Plastic surgery isn't the only way to keep the aging process at bay. With the proper care you can have fabulous skin in your forties, fifties, sixties and beyond," promises author Nicholas Perricone, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. In his opening chapters, Perricone explains why skin wrinkles and sags--a combination of factors including the passage of time, stress, poor nutrition, excess alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and exposure to cigarette smoke, sunlight, and pollution. Ultimately, however, it all boils down to damage caused by those renegade free radicals.

The bulk of his book is then devoted to a clearly presented skin care regimen that involves oral and topical antioxidant therapy. On the oral front, he emphasizes eating antioxidant foods, such as cantaloupe and dark green leafy vegetables, and avoiding "bad carbohydrates" (high in the glycemic index) such as pasta, sugar, and pancakes. And if you want to look good for a big event within a few days he suggests eating "fish, fish and more fish."

On the topical level, he recommends nutritional skin products such as his DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) cream ("an instant anti-aging face-lift"), a product that can only be purchased at specific places, such as selected Nordstrom stores or www.Sephora.com. Perricone's tie-in with his personal line of "cosmeceuticals" makes the book feel a tad self-serving. (He even includes an index of where to buy his products.) However, most of his advice is based on solid research and common sense, which gives this celebrity doctor credibility as well as a huge following. --Gail Hudson


From AudioFile
More than a dermatologist, the author is a tireless expert on aging and the skin. Cosmeceuticals, a term he coined, are natural compounds that can dramatically affect the health and appearance of skin, especially on the face. Specific foods, antioxidant vitamins, and minerals can also help. He also explains with smooth clarity how the skins of people from different regions of the world respond differently to sunlight, toxins, and the internal and external remedies he recommends. Though the program includes a lot of technical information, the author's ability with personal narrative makes it highly understandable. A valuable and accessible lesson for anyone with skin problems or worries about appearance. T.W. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
From Yale University's dermatological and anti-aging expert Nicholas Perricone, M.D., comes the all-natural program that has already helped thousands-including top Hollywood stars. This antioxidant plan revitalizes your skin from the outside and inside, reducing and effectively erasing wrinkles and blemishes, no matter your skin color or type, no matter your age! Find out about: * Alpha Lipoic Acid-lines, wrinkles, under-eye puffiness, acne scars, and enlarged pores can disappear. * The Three-Day Diet for Better Skin-special "face-changing" foods visibly change the way you look, in just seventy-two hours. * Vitamin C Ester-this miracle supplement can heal sun-damaged skin or inflammations by helping your body produce collagen-it firms up sagging skin as well! * An Instant Face-lift-DMAE tightens skin almost instantly and offers long-lasting results with continued use. And quickly plumps up lips, too! * The Sugar Taboo-simple carbs ravage your skin and speed aging. Find out how to reverse the damage! COMMON SKIN PROBLEMS...EXTRAORDINARY SOLUTIONS! Your skin is as individual as you are: white or brown, oily, dry, prone to breakouts, or easily irritated. Whatever your specific skin concern, cosmeceuticals-vitamin creams and other treatments that provide benefits beyond simple moisturizers-can help. Here's what Dr. Perricone recommends for these common problems: Problem #1-Crow's-feet, Upper Lip Line Solution: A form of Vitamin C able to actually penetrate into the skin. Discover how it works and where to get it. Problem #2-Dark Under-Eye Shadows Solution: An extraordinarily powerful antioxidant available orally or in a topical cream-it can be your miracle-worker. Problem #3-Jowls and Sagging Skin Solution: An exciting new nutrient complex that is a true face-lift in a jar. In greater strengths, it can lift your thighs too! Problem #4-Dull, Sallow-Looking Skin Solution: Alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids-but not all are created equal. Discover which one excels at exfoliation.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Not confined -- despite its title -- to fending off those pesky wrinkles, this is a guide to maintaining a healthy, supple, and glowing complexion at any age, without plastic surgery. Dr. Perricone, a renowned dermatologist, instructs readers on reaping the benefits of antioxidants and cosmeceuticals, as well as the lasting effects of sound nutrition.

The book asserts that much of what we consider the natural effects of aging on the skin is actually quite avoidable. The lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and loss of firmness and moisture that accrue over the years are not the result of the body's aging process; they are in fact the result of exposure to free radicals released by contact with the sun, chemicals, stress, cosmetics, and other forms of maltreatment. The explanation of the damage caused by free radicals and the ways in which antioxidants counterbalance this damage is truly eye-opening. In addition to the skin-saving techniques imparted by the book, readers will come away with a clear understanding of the science of aging, especially as it relates to their skin.

To help patients, and now readers, combat the ravages of free radicals, Dr. Perricone has formulated a program that incorporates antioxidants found in vegetables and topical antioxidant treatments he has termed cosmeceuticals, like vitamin C ester, DMAE, and alpha lipoic acid. These cosmeceuticals -- a cross between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals -- allow antioxidants to be absorbed readily by the skin, which uses them to stabilize free radicals. The book presents numerous stories of patients who turned to cosmeceuticals instead of facelifts, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. These stories are a highlight of the book, as they provide compelling examples of the power of antioxidants to repair not only the skin but also the self-esteem of users of all ages.

The premise of the book is that treating your skin well -- from the inside as well as the outside -- ought to be an imperative part of anyone's health and beauty regimen. By nourishing our bodies with antioxidant-rich foods and protecting our skin from the sun and other exterior hazards, we can all enjoy luminous skin well into our golden years. And if it's too late for such precautionary measures, there's always The Wrinkle Cure to help. (Karen Burns)

ANNOTATION

"...presents an all-natural antioxidant program for skin rejuvenation that goes beyond surfaces fixes and produces long-lasting results."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Nicholas Perricone, M.D., has done what no other health or beauty expert has done: create the antidote to aging skin.

A Yale-affiliated dermatologist and anti-aging expert, Dr. Perricone has spent nearly 2 decades researching the causes and cures of aging skin. The result is an all-natural antioxidant program for skin rejuvenation that goes far beyond surface fixes and produces startling, long-lasting results in every layer and every cell of your skin. Dr. Perricone's breakthrough science has the attention and respect of the medical community, and his skin program is already used widely by world-famous newscasters and entertainers. Now, it is your turn to apply Dr. Perricone's groundbreaking methods to attain beautiful, supple skin!

Dr. Perricone's program has been touted in Elle, Glamour, In Style, Town & Country, Mirabella, and Newsday, among other publications.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile