DMAE as an Active Ingredient for Skin Rejuvenation
Nicknamed “the facelift in a jar” by skin care ads and lay media, topical DMAE is considered an effective agent for fading wrinkles and reducing facial sag. While the former is easier to achieve, none of the well-known topical agents has yet been proven 100% capable of reversing facial sag. This is unfortunate, considering a sagging face often is a more obvious sign of aging as compared to wrinkles. However, DMAE has shown that it has some potential for tackling the effects of skin aging.
Often used in conjunction with Retinol, vitamin E, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis, Hyaluronic Acid, Lycium Barbarum Berry Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Berry Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract and Chamomile Flower Extract, DMAE has become a common ingredient in face rejuvenation creams. Although its effects are far from anything a well-performed surgical face lift can accomplish, DMAE does have its benefits, especially when used in conjunction with effective hydrating agents (Hyaluronic Acid) and powerful antioxidants (Vitamins C & E). Concretely, DMAE may be the first agent proven to have at least some positive effect with respect to restoring skin’s elasticity.
DMAE, which is the acronym for dimethylaminoethanol, is a naturally occurring substance that encourages the synthesis of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. There is reason to believe that DMAE also facilitates the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a vital component of cell membranes. Until recently, DMAE has been better known and researched as a “smart drug” rather than a skin-firming agent. Multiple studies have shown that DMAE is capable to reduce age-related decline in cognitive ability and memory, and the substance was also found to slightly increase lifespan of laboratory animals.
An interesting finding in certain DMAE studies was that it hindered the formation of lipofuscin deposits inside cells. Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment made of aggregated clods of molecular waste, which commonly appears in the cells of the elderly. As findings suggest, lipofuscin is more than a byproduct of aging – it has a direct contribution to the aging process. Nerve cells, heart cells and skin cells of older people typically contain large amounts of lipofuscin.
Although it has been proven that DMAE produces some effects in terms of skin tightening, the actual potential the substance has for skin rejuvenation is less researched. The mechanism by which DMAE firms the skin is still unclear, but the effects of DMAE are often noticeable in prolonged skin treatment regimens. Even when DMAE may be unable to reverse existing facial sag by an appreciable margin, there is speculation that it may reduce its further progression. Moreover, some people remark a cumulative effect with continued use of DMAE-based skin care products.
Even if there is little research to support its capabilities, DMAE still looks promising in terms of skin rejuvenation and may soon make up the forefront of a new generation of topical skin treatments. Given its low level of toxicity, overall high level of safety and good availability as part as various dermatological and cosmetic products, feel free to experiment with it and decide for yourself whether it works or not. A good DMAE-based Eye Cream or facial cream should provide results in a matter of months, if only for slowing down the natural process of skin aging.